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John Goszner's Treasury 



CONTAINING 



BIBLE MEDITATIONS FOR EACH DAY 
IN THE YEAR 



WITH 



Devotional Songs to the Furtherance of 
Family Prayer and Piety 



AUGSBURG PUBLISHING HOUSE 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 

I906 



library of congress 
Two Conies Received 

AUG 20 1906 

Copyritjlu Entry 
CLASS ,ec, XXc. No. 

C</PY B. 






Copyright, 1906, by 

Augsburg Publishing House, 

Minneapolis. 



THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 
Rev. 22: 20. These are they which have washed their robes, 

and made them white in the blood of the Lamb that 

they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in 
through the gates into the city. Rev. 7: 14; 22: 14. Behold, I 
stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and 
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, 
and he with me. Rev. 3: 20. 

There is a threefold coming of Christ, a threefold 
Advent. He is come, He comes, and He will come ; 
thus "saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which 
is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. i : 8). By His incarna- 
tion and birth He came to the world and dwelt here for 
men's sake. He comes daily to men, through faith and 
regeneration of the inner man, and dwells and lives in 
the heart (Rev. 3: 20; John 14: 23). On the day of 
His manifestation He will come against the world and 
the unbelivers to judge and to punish them, and to re- 
ward the pious. Christ's first advent will not avail us, 
and the third advent will be terrible, if we do not make 
use of His second advent to us. If He come not into 
us, His coming for us will not avail us, and at last He 
will come against us. All depends, therefore, upon His 
advent into us, as the apostle Paul says, ''Know ye 
not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, 
except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. 13: 5). 

Since His third advent seems to be very near at hand, 
and we know not how soon and suddenly it will fall 
upon the earth, inasmuch as He will come as "a thief 
in the night," we should above all things prepare for His 
advent into our hearts. Who shall stand against His 
wrath if he have not Christ dwelling in him? No man 
will be able to endure the last trials, the great hour of 
temptation, unless he has received Christ in his 
heart and is kept by Him. For the wrath of God 
will be unendurable to all who are without God and with- 
out Christ. Christ must dwell in your heart — not on 



your tongue and in your head only; else He will not 
assist you at His judgment seat. He who* has not Christ 
in Him, will, as a shell without the kernel, be found 
wanting and cast into* the fire. He in whom Christ does 
not dwell, cannot say, "Come, Lord Jesus !" without call- 
ing for the flames of His fire that they consume him. 
O Lord Jesus, come first into our hearts, that with joy 
we may see Thee also when Thou comest to judgment 
and retribution. 

Arise, the Kingdom is at hand, 
The King is drawing nigh; 
Arise with joy, thou faithful band, 
To meet the Lord most high! 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

I will extol thee, my God, O King*; and I will bless thy 
name for ever and ever. — The Lord is gracious, and full of 
compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy— The eyes of 
all wait upon thee — He will fulfill the desire of them that 
fear him. Ps. 1451 

He who knows the Lord and give's heed to His works 
and providence must ever be full of thankfulness, his 
mouth is full of the praise of God. He never ceases to 
admire God's greatness, power, and goodness, en- 
countering at every step traces and footprints of God, 
who is everywhere present and everywhere bestows His 
blessings. He desires to make the Lord known unto 
all men, that all may praise Him. All creatures "wait" 
upon Him for their preservation and sustenance. That 
which God does not preserve cannot preserve itself. 
He opens His rich and bounteous "hand," and blesses 
and satisfies heaven and earth with life, strength, and 
joy. Though it often seems that things should not be 
as they are, and it is impossible to understand how God 
can permit this or that, yet it can be said without hesita- 
tion concerning Him, "The Lord is righteous in all His 
ways and merciful in all His works." 

No creature can charge Him with sin or mis- 
demeanor. What a sustaining truth is this, "The 
Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, He will 
fulfill the desire of them that fear Him. He also will 



5 

hear their cry and save them !" They who fear His 
word, who are careful not to trespass even in the small- 
est ' things, to them are the eyes of the Lord turned ; 
He will surely gratify every desire of their heart. He 
preserveth them that love Him. It is impossible to de- 
scribe the privileges that His beloved ones enjoy. His 
eyes are turned toward them whose eyes turn to> Him. 
But whoever impiously does not fear the Lord, will be 
destroyed. 

Refrain, O child of God, from grieving; 
With* God's wise dealings be content, 
His guiding providence perceiving, 
And gracious will, in each event. 
The Lord, our Maker, knows indeed 
Our every sorrow, every need. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

1 exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, pray- 
ers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 
for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may 
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our 
Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come 
into the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2: 1 — 4. But if any 
provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own 
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 
1 Tim. 5: 8. 

It is a matter of great concern to the Christian that 
all ( men should be saved ; he sees in every human 
being the price and "value of Christ's precious blood. 
At the sight of any human being he thinks : "Alas ! also 
for this one the Savior died upon the cross ; this one also 
is bought with His blood ; for this one also is deliverance 
and salvation prepared ; this one also> is called to< the 
Lamb's supper." How can a heart that loves Jesus and 
His kingdom entertain such thoughts without at the 
same time commending his fellowmen, through prayer 
and supplication, to Him who has the key to all hearts, 
the hammer that crushes all rocks, and turns the hearts 
of men as streams of water. Young people, above all, 
should deeply concern every devout mind, — the youth 
^vhorn Satan and the world especially seek to lead 



into destruction. O youth in thy bloom ! when I behold 
thee I wish that I could place thee in the arms of Jesus. 
He would guide thee so charmingly. He would make 
thee so happy. Why should the blood of Jesus be lost 
upon thee? Let me place it on thine heart. He will 
bring thee peace and joy, such as the world can not give. 
But if it be a matter of great importance to the Chris- 
tian that all men should be saved, how much more 
important must it be to him that his children, those 
of his own house, and his friends, be saved ! How can 
he save others and see his own perish? The apostle 
Paul is so particular about this, that neglect of those of 
your own house is, in his' eyes, worse than denial of 
the faith ; worse than being an infidel. If you would not 
deny all faith and render your prayers, your singing and 
reading, your knowledge, and confidence in Christ of no 
avail ; if you would not be worse than an infidel, then 
strive with greater earnestness than heretofore to attain 
the salvation of yourself and your household ; do not 
rest until you have accomplished the salvation of your- 
self and of your house. 

Joyfully, then, let us spread the glad news, 
Never this service for Jesus refuse, 
Never a moment to work for Him lose; 
Joyfully work for Jesus. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the 
hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mat. 25: 13. Herein is 
our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day 
of judgment. 1 John 4: 17. 

He who does not live in the intoxication of the senses, 
but is awakened out of the sleep in which the chil- 
dren of the world slumber only too soundly, so numbers 
his days as to employ them wisely in the service for 
which they are given. He does this gladly because 
every day brings him nearer to the glorious consumma- 
tion for which his soul and body heartily long. The 
Christian as a child of eternity, a citizen of heaven, a 



member of the household of God, is ever preparing 1 him- 
self, as long as he remains here on earth, for his mar- 
riage day, for that moment in which he, as the bride 
of the Lamb, shall be taken into the home of the Bride- 
groom. He watches constantly ; he stands at the door 
that he may be ready at once to go in with the Bride- 
groom when He comes and opens the door. He is as 
one daily dying from this life ; as one quickened, every 
day he becomes more alive and lays ever stronger hold 
on the life eternal unto which he is called, (i Tim. 6: 
12). That which he accomplishes in death, namely, 
to find the door unto eternal life, he has learned during 
his life. He carries the Door, the Way, in his heart. 
For him to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is the 
only way unto salvation. By this are the children of 
God known. They have the love of God in them ; and 
because of this love they tremble not before the grave, 
death, and judgment. For "perfect love casteth out 
fear" (1 John 4: 18). 

When my last hour is close at hand, 

My last sad journey taken, 

Do Thou, Lord Jesus, by me stand, 

Let me not be forsaken. 

O Lord, my spirit I resign 

Into Thy loving hands divine; 

'Tis safe within Thy keeping. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; 
deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. Judg. 10: 15. The 
Lord do that which seemeth to him good. 2 Sam. 10: 12. We 
do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might 
be filled with the knowledge of his will m all wisdom and 
spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the 
Lord UJito all pleasing. Col. 1: 9. 10. 

The Christian's compass according to which he di- 
rects his course on the ocean of life, to which he pays 
the closest attention, and without which he dares not 
make a single move, is the will and pleasure of his God 
and Savior. For he knows that he will be wrecked and 
strike upon shoals or enter upon a course contrary to 



8 

that of his destination as soon as he turns his eyes away 
from the will and pleasure of God. Consequently noth- 
ing is more sacred or of more importance to him on 
earth and in heaven than this holy and acceptable will 
of God. It is more to him than all the wisdom of man, 
more than the intellect of the angels. He sacrifices to 
it his own wisdom and all other wisdom. He cannot 
rest assured before he knows that he has taken the 
way and the course, which God's will, his compass, 
points out to him. This was also the sense of the apostle 
Paul; for this reason he prayed and implored in behalf 
of the Colossians, who were already enlightened, that 
God would fill them with the "knowledge of His will." 
He desired above all else that they walk worthily, 
pleasing the Lord in all things. Our whole Christianity, 
all our knowledge and virtuous deeds are without value, 
if we have not the Lord's will and pleasure in view, if 
we be prompted by any other consideration, and live to 
please ourselves or others. To please God is the in- 
dicator on the scale to which you must pay close atten- 
tion. It should always be even and not incline to the 
right or to the left. Onward and upward ! 

Order my footsteps by Thy Word, 
And make my heart sincere; 
Let sin have no dominion, Lord, 
But keep my conscience clear. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and 
the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. The sorrows 

of death compassed me he brought me forth also into a 

Jarge place. Ps. 18: 2. 4. 19. He brought me up also out 
of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon 
a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new 
song in my mouth. — Ps. 40: 2. 3. 

These are the words of one who is delivered, liber- 
ated, and pardoned, who for a long time has fought 
against flesh and blood, Satan and the world, to get rid 
of the power and dominion of sin, who at length through 
faith in Christ, the Atoner, has found salvation, peace, 



and power to conquer. Now he clings unto the Lord 
with the heart's delight, full of joy and gratitude, be- 
cause he is no longer compelled to serve sin and Satan ; 
the chains of sin, the yoke of the oppressor, are now 
broken ; his 'heart finds its pleasure and only joy in 
serving the Lord, and in being led by His Spirit. Is the 
same true in regard to you, dear reader ? Are you saved 
out of the horrible pit of evil passions? Or have you, 
perhaps, only plunged from one pit into the other, floun- 
dered from one mire into another ? Look into your own 
heart and see whether there is a mire therein, whether 
Jesus only is there. Do you stand on this rock? Are 
you within this entrenchment and so- compassed 
about by Him that your enemies can no more overthrow 
you? Be careful, dear friend. Do not sing the new song 
too loudly ; do not pose with too much security ; you 
may, perhaps, again make a false step. Let no self- 
reliance, no self-complacency, dwell together with your 
confidence in God in your heart. Be humble, while at 
the same time you rejoice in your salvation. Neverthe- 
less, be without fear ; for the Lord is in reality a rock 
upon which you may stand in safety Only beware lest 
you regard yourself an immovable rock. 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me! 
Let me hide myself in Thee; 
Let the water and the hlood, 
From Thy riven side that flowed, 
Be of sin the perfect cure; 
Save me, Lord! and make me pure. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye ever- 
lasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Ps. 24: 
7. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into 
them, and I will praise the Lord. Ps. 118: 19. Say ye to the 
daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his 
reward is with him, and his work before him. Is. 62: 11. 
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; behold, thy King com- 
eth unto thee; he is just, and having salvation, Zech. 9: 9. 

Thus the Son of God was proclaimed to the pious 
Israelites ; thus they waited for Him, and thus they ex- 



10 

pected Him. Now that He is here, few or none con- 
cern themselves about Him. At that time they lifted 
up their "gates" and opened wide the "doors" of their 
hearts, wishing that He might enter. Now, after He is 
come, the doors and the gates are closed against 
Him. Not so, dear soul! Enlarge your heart. Close 
the doors of* your senses outwardly against the world 
and open them inwardly to* the coming Redeemer. 
Yearn for Him with all the desire of your heart. 
He is knocking for admittance into your heart by His 
Word and by His Spirit, saying, "Open unto me ; make 
your gates high and wide." He announces Himself to 
you by His messengers ; they must, according to His 
commandment, cry out to you, "Daughter of Zion : thy 
King cometh unto thee." Wilt thou not hear? Wilt 
thou like the whole world still close thine heart and 
let Him wait until His patience and mercy are at an 
end and the time of thy visitation hath passed by? 
Yearn for Him ; open thine heart to Him now, when 
He announces Himself, now when He knocks for ad- 
mittance ; then shall He, the righteous One, come in 
unto thee and make thee righteous. He, the Savior, will 
save thee and help thee where thou art helpless, in thy 
sanctification and salvation, in the battle against sin, the 
world, and the devil. For it is written, "Who is this 
King of glory?" and the answer is, '.'The Lord, strong 
and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." Such a King 
you need ; without Him you can not be victorious. 

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! 
Behold, the King of glory waits; 
The King is drawing near, 
The Savior of the world is here; 
Life and salvation He doth bring, 
Wherefore rejoice, and gladly sing: 
We praise Thee,- Father, now, 
Creator, wise art Thou. 



THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth 
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem 
them that were under the law, that we might receive the 



II 

adoption of sons. Gal. 4: 4. 5 Kiss the Son, lest he be 
angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled 
but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. 
Ps. 2: 12. 

When lying in our blood, the Son of God came to 
seek us, to heal, console, and save us, His miserable 
brethren. He was not ashamed of us in our misery. 
But if you are ashamed of Him and will not kiss His 
hands and feet that are pierced for you ; if you do not 
surrender yourself to Him and pay homage to Him ; 
if you do not permit Him to save you, then His wrath 
will at last be kindled, after having patiently suffered 
you all through your life. His wrath will burn the 
fiercer, the longer He has gone after you, seeking in 
vain to kiss you. When we remember that His name is 
called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The 
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9: 6), 
our hearts should throb with joy that we may kiss this 
High and Exalted One. We should in a child-like and 
trusting manner draw near unto Him as to a brother, 
throw ourselves into His arms and expect all things 
from Him. Does not he who despises Christ deserve 
His wrath? This "Son" can become terribly "angry" 
when His patience is abused and despised. As the world 
now-a-days becomes ever bolder in sinning against His 
patience and in disregard of the Son, it may be that His 
wrath will soon be kindled. It is high time that all 
who would be saved, "kiss the Son," and draw near 
to Him while it is yet day. The time will come when 
He no longer shall appear as a Prince of Peace, Father 
and Counsellor, but as Judge and Avenger, in flaming 
fire, taking vengeance 011 them that know not God, and 
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
(2 Thess. 1:8). Ye children of men, why will ye not kiss 
the Son who now comes to you in love, but who shall 
once come to terrify the unbelieving? 

My lips with shame my sins confess 
Against Thy law, against Thy grace: 
Lord, should Thy judgment grow severe, 
I am condemned, but Thou art clear. 



12 



Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord, 
Whose hope, still hovering round Thy Word, 
Would light on some sweet promise there, 
Some sure support against despair. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Z\on, which 
cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains 
are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his 
people from henceforth even forever. Ps. 125: 1. 2. The 
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear 
him, and delivereth them. Ps. 34: 7. 

What a fortress, what a castle! Immovable, firm as 
Mount Zion, on which stand the temple and the castle 
of David, stands the Christian who trusts in God. God's 
"mountains are round about" him, as round about Jeru- 
salem, yea, the Lord, the Lord Himself, who holds 
heaven and earth in His hand, is round about him, is 
round about all who put their trust in Him. And be- 
sides, the angels of God, the mighty in power, who "do 
His bidding," are round about him as an intrenchment. 
If the generals of earth trust in their camps, forts, and 
armies, should not the Christian trust in the power and 
mercy of the Lord that is round about him on all sides? 
Should he fear? What a fort, then, is the heart of the 
Christian! What a camp when several such trusting 
hearts are congregated and pray, and wage battle to- 
gether ! How terrible to the enemy, how invincible, how 
dreadful to hell and all the children of darkness ! Oh, 
had we the eyes to see what surrounds the believers, and 
who it is that lives in them, we should see mountains 
that no power from hell can move, we should see a 
castle, a fortress that causes Satan to tremble. For the 
Lord dwells in the believers. Who shall overpower Him ? 
Who shall overpower the heart, the fort, in which dwells 
the Most High? the heart surrounded by the Almighty, 
before which the angels encamp themselves? Beloved, 
when fear would lay hold of you, when Satan would 
terrify you, when the enemies threaten you, do not forget 



13 

Him who is in you, who is greater and stronger than he 
that is in the world (i John 4:4). Do not forget Him 
who is "round about" you. 

In Thine arms I rest me; 

Foes who would molest me 

Cannot reach me here; 

Though the earth be shaking, 

Every heart be quaking; 

Jesus calms my fear; 

Sin and hell, in conflict fell, 

With their bitter storms assail me, 

Jesus will not fail me. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT 



Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine 
enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 
over. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 
days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 
for ever. Ps. 23: 5. 6. 

David always prayed for this one thing, that he 
might "dwell in the house of the Lord" all the days of 
his life (Ps. 27: 4). What, then, did he find there? 
"Goodness and mercy." What more does man need? 
Completely destitute of that which is good but rich in all 
that is evil, there can be nothing of which man is more 
in need than mercy. Mercy he finds in the Lord only, 
in the house of the Lord, not in the tents of the wicked. 
Wherefore David would rather be a doorkeeper, porter, 
the least in God's homse, than the greatest in the "tents 
of wickedness." What more did he find? A "table" 
prepared before him with food that strengthened and 
equipped him so that he became unconquerable and terri- 
fying to all his enemies. What more did he find? A well 
of oil, an ointment for his head, given in full measure 
that he should never be in want. This can be seen in 
his psalms, so full of unction ; from these we may ever 
draw sufficient ointment. ' May we come to this table, 
this source of unction? Most assuredly. More free- 



14 

ly than men could in David's time. Now it is open to 
all ; now all are invited to this table ; now all things are 
made ready for all in Christ Jesus (Luke 14: 17). You 
may every day and every hour eat at this table, draw 
from this oil-well. Whosoever believes in Christ is him- 
self a well from which flow "rivers of living water" 
(John 7: 38). Whosoever believes in Christ has the 
bread of life, and shall not hunger nor thirst (John 6: 
35). Why, then, do not all believe in Him? Because 
Satan, the god of this world, has blinded their minds so 
that they do not see the clear light of the Gospel (2 Cor. 
4:4); and because men love the praise of men more 
than the praise of God (John 5: 44; 12: 43). 

The hill of Zion yields 

A thousand secret sweets, 

Before we reach the heavenly fields, 

Or walk the golden streets. 

Then let our songs abound, 

And every tear be dry; 

We're marching through Immanuel's ground 

To fairer worlds on high. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN 
ADVENT. 



Praise waiteth for thee, O God, m Zion; O thou that hear 
est prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Ps. 65: 1. 2. Come 

and see the works of God. Thou hast caused men 

to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through 
water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 
Ps. 66: 5. 12. 

How many quiet psalms of praise ascend to God 
from the hearts of those who trust in Him and call upon 
Him in their need! They know how readily, gloriously 
and wonderfully He helps. They can testify to it, as the 
psalmist, and invite men, saying, "Come and see the 
wonderful works of God toward the children of men. 
He brings us uninjured through fire and water; He 
causes men to ride over our heads, but He sustains us 
nevertheless, yea, He even at the same time refreshes 



15 

us." Truly, he who has the Lord with him, and calls 
upon Him, feels much refreshment even in the heat of 
affliction. Wherefore the whole world, all flesh, cries 
out to the Lord in need. Men's misery drives them to 
Him who alone can deliver them, and of whom they 
would feel no need if it were not for their distress. What 
would He -not do for them if they came to Him, not 
driven by necessity, but by love and yearning ! How He 
would refresh them ! He calls all who labor and are 
heavyladen, that He may refresh them. May this word 
quicken our faith and our trust in Him, that we never 
doubt His willingness and ability to help ! He will lead 
us through all difficulties. 

The God that rules on high, 

That all the earth surveys, 

That rides upon the stormy sky, 

And calms the roaring seas: 

This awful God is ours, 

Our Father and our Love: 

He will send down His heavenly powers 

To carry us above. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SECOND S.UNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall 
not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will 
I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that 
will I aeek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord 
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, 
and to inquire in his temple. Ps. 27: 3. 4. 

We shall consider this whole psalm to-day, because it- 
is full of the courage of faith, full of a feeling of God's 
nearness. He who fears God has nothing to be afraid 
of. He for whom the light of God shines, who is com- 
forted by God's salvation, has no reason to fear. If 
the -wicked come upon him 10 "eat up his flesh," they 
shall stumble and fall. For they have to deal with the 
living God, who shields the God-fearing and is a fiery wall 
round about them. Yea, though great hosts of enemies 
and devils attack the believer, yet his heart is not dis- 



i6 

mayed, because they are all nothing as against GckI. 
They that champion our cause are greater in number 
than they who encamp themselves against us. God does 
not forsake anyone who trusts in Him. But He who 
would thus trust in God, and in all things depend upon 
His power and goodness, must cherish no other wish but 
to walk in the presence of the Lord; he must always 
have God before his eye and in his heart, commune with 
God as a member of His house, and seek Him anew as 
often as he loses sight of Him. This is the only thing 
he desires of the Lord, and that he seeks after. His joy 
and happiness are in that word and commandment of the 
Lord, "Seek ye my face !" This commandment is to him 
more than a thousand worlds. He rejoices in a child- 
like, yea, a king-like manner, because he is not only 
permitted but commanded to seek the face of God, and 
because hope is consequently given him of finding Him. 
Hence he constantly seeks the face of God, the presence 
of the Lord. When this Pillar of Fire shines in his 
heart — what should the Christian then fear? He is 
trustful and of good cheer; because the Lord goes be- 
fore and prepares the way for him. 

As true as God's own word is true, 
Nor earth nor hell with all their crew 
Against us shall prevail. 
A jest and by-word are they grown: 
God is with us; we are His own; 
Our victory cannot fail. 



FRICAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT, 



Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence 
of things not seen. Heb. 11: 1. For I know whom I have 
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that 
which I have committed unto him agai-nst that day. 2 Tim. 
1: 12. (Abraham was) fully persuaded that, what he had 
promised, he was able also to perform. Rom. 4: 21. 

If your faith and works be of God, then you 
have divine certainty; your faith can no more be moved 
than God can be moved. If your faith have God's testi- 



i7 

mony and power in the heart as its foundation, it stands 
as secure as God Himself. If, however, your faith be 
only a fancy or a supposition built on human arguments, 
a self- wrought evidence, then it is subject to the same 
changes as all human things are subject to. The faith 
which is wrought by God in the heart can not be over- 
thrown by anyone :, it is a great gift of God. There are 
many who themselves are the authors of their faith ; 
hence their faith is as weak and wavering as they them- 
selves are, altogether dependent on their own moods and 
on the weather. If the weather be nice their faith will 
be strong; but if it storms, the wind will blow away their 
faith, as it happened to Peter on the sea. Since faith 
must accomplish so much in man ; since it must overcome 
the world, the flesh, and the devil, and gain heaven and 
eternal life, yea, God Himself ; since it must create a new 
man and translate him into the heavenly kingdom with 
Christ, and make him partaker of Christ, and of His 
divine nature, God's child and heir, a fellow-citizen of 
the sanctified and one of the houeshokl of God, holy, 
righteous, glorious and blissful as God Himself, — there- 
fore faith must be more than the work of man. It must 
be of divine nature, born of God, placed in the heart 
by God Himself and inspired, animated and preserved 
by the power of God. Hence we have reason to pray : 
Lord, increase our faith ! 

Faith is a living power from heaven, 
That grasps the promise God hath given, 
A confidence in Christ alone 
Whose grace cannot be overthrown. 

Faith feels the Spirit's kindling breath 
In love and hope that conquer death; 
Faith worketh joyfulness in God, 
And trusts and blesses e'en the rod. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

For I fear, lest when I come, I shall not find you such as 
I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would 
not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, back- 
bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: — — — and that 
I shall bewail many which have sinned. 2 Cor. 12: 20. 21. 



i8 

Much evil may steal into awakened Christians, many 
a sin may revive in them if they do not watch. All 
these sins enumerated by Paul appear again; he who 
considers himself an awakened and converted believer, 
and makes light of such sins, who neither mourns them 
nor repents and eradicates them, is in a blinded and per- 
verted state — a condition worse than total ignorance of 
Christ. He continues in devotional exercises, in singing 
psalms, in oral prayer, in reading and in everything 
which is in vogue, but does not change and better him- 
self, — and yet he considers himself a Christian. Then 
a person is in the condition described in 2 Pet. 2 : 
20 — 22. Beloved, always think thus : If Paul and Christ 
were to step in among us ; if they were witnesses to 
all our deeds, would they find us as they would wish 
or would we find them as we would not wish? If Paul 
found such shameful things in his congregations, could 
he not also find them in our congregations? And how 
would his countenance then look? "Shall I praise you 
or shall I come unto you with a rod ? For the kingdom 
of God is not in word, but in power." Let no man 
who finds pleasure in himself deceive himself; but let 
him consider himself in the mirror of the word and prove 
his conduct according to the rule of truth. 

Yet, though conscience' voice appall me, 
Father, I will seek Thy face; 
Though Thy child I dare not call me, 
Yet receive me to Thy grace; 
Do not for my sins forsake me, 
Let not yet Thy wrath o'ertake me. 



THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that 
turn from transgression in Jacob. Is. 59:20. Lo, 1 come (in 
the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, 
O God. Heb. 10: 7. For the Son of man is come to seek 
and to save that which was lost. Luke 19: 10. 

It was promised that He should come, and lo, He 
came ; not' to judge nor to condemn the world, but 
to seek -and to save all who are lost. Who could 



19 

have compelled Him to come to the lost ? No one ; 
naught but His love urged and compelled Him. At the 
sight of man's perversion, wretchedness and eternal mis- 
ery He said to His Father, "Lo, I come ; spare them ! 
I will do Thy will." Thus it was also the Father's will 
that He should come and save that which was lost. He 
was not sent out in wrath ; He came not in wrath, but 
in pure love. Love sent Him to us. This love we must 
worship, because to love we owe this great gift from 
heaven. Love took Him from His throne ; love nailed 
Him to the cross. — But who profits by His coming? To 
whom is He come? To Zion, to those who turn from 
their sins. He who will not separate himself from sin 
and the world, can not rejoice in His coming. To Zion 
belongs every one who with all his heart turns to the 
Lord his God, who feels his need of a Redeemer and 
therefore prays to God that He will send him help out of 
of Zion. All who turn their face toward Zion and long 
to be set free from the bondage of sin — to them He is 
come ; unto them He is of God made "wisdom, and 
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (i 
Cor. i : 30). 

I heard the voice of Jesus say, 

"I am this dark world's light; 

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, 

And all thy days be bright." 

I looked to Jesus, and I found 

In Him my star, my sun; 

And in that light of life I'll walk 

Till traveling days are done. 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the 
prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 
John 1: 45. I love them that love me; and those that seek 

me early shall find me. For whoso findeth me findeth 

life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord. Prov. 8: 17. 35. 

Job exclaimed, "Oh that I knew where I might find 
Him!" (Job. 23: 3). The disciples cried, "We have 
found Him !" What do you say, beloved ? The Savior 



20 

is come to let Himself be found; He became man to let 
{Himself be found of man. If you have not found Him, 
or if you do not seek Him, you have missed your destiny 
as a human being. If you do not seek and find the God 
and Savior incarnate, it were better you had never 
been born. O ye children of men ! God is become a 
child of man that ye might all the easier find Him ; and 
yet ye will not come to Him to receive life from Him? 
God's wisdom and love are personally and bodily before 
you in the likeness of Man; Christ says, "I- love them 
that love me ; and they that seek me early, shall find me. 
For whoso findeth me findeth life. He that believeth 
not on me remaineth in death and shall not see life; but 
the wrath of God abideth on him." What soul among 
men that hears such an invitation can yet hold back and 
hesitate to seek Him? If God had not sent His Son 
as a gift into the world, we might seek all our life with- 
out finding anything that could make us perfectly happy. 
Now He is here, who will give unto all rest for their 
souls, redeem and save all. Who has found Him? 

Not the earth with all its treasure 
Could content this soul of mine; 
Not alone for heavenly pleasure 
Doth my thirsty spirit pine; 
For its Savior yearning ever: 
I will leave my Jesus never! 



TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not for- 
saken him. — — — And behold, God himself is with us 
for our captain, and his priests. 2 Chron. 13: 10. 12. Through 
God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down 
our enemies. Ps. 108: 13. If it had not been the Lord who 
was on our side, when men rose up against us; then they 
had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled 
against us: then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream 
had gone over our soul. Ps. 124: 2-4. 

The narrative of Abijah's war against Jeroboam de- 
serves to be read as recorded in the chapter referred to 



21 

(2 Chron. 13). Abijah, with four hundred thousand 
men, conquered Jeroboam with eight hundred thousand 
men. For the latter had cast out the priests of the Lord 
and introduced idolatry. Abijah could say, "God Him- 
self is with us for our captain, and His priests." The 
One is stronger than eight hundred thousand men. He 
who has God on his side, as the captain of his forces, 
will always conquer, even though he succumb. As in the 
battles of this world, so, and much more so, in the spir- 
itual battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil ; 
though sin, evil desires, Satan, the enemies of Christ and 
the truth, persecute us and reinforce themselves with all 
the~powers of hell, yet they are unable to conquer us if 
Christ be with us and in us. But he who forsakes the 
Lord and seeks other protection will be vanquished. The 
Lord alone is strong and valiant in this war. He alone 
is able to conquer. Let no man depend upon his own 
arm. Give up all hopes of self and cling to the Lord. 
Through God we 'shall do valiantly and tread down our 
enemies. The Almighty, the Invincible, the All-conquer- 
ing, is with us. He is our buckler and defence; who, 
then, can be against us? Let it be true that the Lord is 
with us and that we are with Him. Let it not only be 
a thought and a fancy ; an imaginary appropriation of 
the protection of God does not protect us against a single 
enemy, much less against thousands. If the Lord be with 
you, you must be with Him, and remain in Him, through 
faith, hope and love, through heartfelt, continuous com- 
munion and prayer. In this fortress you must con- 
stantly remain; for if the enemy find you outside of it, 
you are lost. 

If dangers gather round, 

Still keep me calm and fearless; 

Help me to bear the cross, 

When life is dark and cheerless; 

To overcome my foe 

With words and actions kind; 

When counsel I would know, 

Good counsel let me find. 



22 
WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou 
knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou under* 
standest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path 
and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 
Ps. 139: 1-3. 

It is with such thoughts as are expressed in this 
psalm that he who has faith in God is inspired. He 
who says that he believes in God, but does not believe 
that God sees all that there is in the heart of man, upon 
his tongue, and in his hand, and does not fear this all- 
seeing eye, is a liar. It is not true that he believes in 
God. May David's faith revive us! Never leave us, 
Thou all-seeing, Thou almighty, Thou holy and right- 
eous God ! May we not for a moment forget that Thou 
searchest us and knowest us; that Thou always and 
everywhere surroundest us, that none of our thoughts are 
hid from Thee, that no word on ou? tongue escapes 
Thee ! "Whither shall I go> from Thy Spirit ? or whither 
shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into 
heaven, Thou art there ; if I make my bed in hell, behold, 
Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and 
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall 
Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. 
Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night 
shineth as the day" (Ps. 139, 7 — 12). He who in the 
Spirit of Christ never has anything else but this truth in 
mind and walks in this pious frame— how holy, right- 
eous, contrite and humble ; how trusting and child-like 
he constantly lives and walks! But he who forgets this 
truth, forgets the all-seeing and all-knowing, the all- 
searching and omnipresent- Savior, — how can faith and 
piety be in his mind? His Christianity is timid; his 
religion is ungodly ; his virtue, hypocrisy ; his righteous- 
ness, sin and vice. 

Present alike in every place, 

Thy Godhead we adore: 

Beyond the bound of time and space, 

Thou dwell'st for evermore. 



23 



In wisdom infinite Thou art. 
Thine eye doth all things see; 
And every thought of every heart 
Is fully known to Thee. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of 
Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 2: 3. And every man that striveth for 
the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to 
obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1 Cor. 
9: 25. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in 
white raiment, him will I make a pillar in the temple of 
my God. Rev. 3: 5. 12. 

There is no doubt that he who lives in Christ gets 
no rest either from the devil or the world or his 
own flesh. These three enemies have formed a black 
alliance against you. If you would stand your ground 
and not fall into their hands again, you must enter 
into a holy alliance with Christ and His Spirit. You 
must put on the full armor of God and always ap- 
pear in it. You must be equipped with the armor of 
righteousness on the right hand and on the left, always 
watchful and ready to repulse and tread down every- 
thing that the world, the flesh and hell may offer 
or tempt you to> do. But beware of beating the air ; 
it does not injure the enemy nor do you yourself 
profit by it. St. Paul says, "So fight I, not as one that 
beateth the air" (i Cor. 9: 26). One often fights hard 
against the enemies that are outside of the house without 
heeding the enemy that is in the house. One denies him- 
self outward things and nourishes and nurses inward 
enemies. Whoever fights in the right manner is tem- 
perate in all things ; he denies himself, his egotism, his 
greed for honor in every form ; his covetousness ; world- 
liness, sensuality, gross or subtle ; his pride, self-import- 
ance, spiritual or worldly. He that overcometh all, 
even himself, shall be crowned ; but if there be one 
single enemy that you have not conquered, you are 
no conqueror and can not receive the crown. If you let 
a single evil inclination rule in your heart, then you have 



2 4 

a thief in the 'house, an enemy within the boundaries of 
your kingdom, who will contest your quiet and peace, 
and will not permit you to win a complete victory, nor 
to obtain the triumph and the crown. 

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink, 
Though pressed by every foe, 
That will not tremble on the brink 
Of any earthly woe! — 

Lord, give us such a faith as this, 
And then, whate'er may come, 
We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss 
Of an eternal home. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Be not thou therefore ashamed pf the testimony of our 

Lord, — who hath saved us and called us with an 

holy calling according to his grace now 

made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, 
who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and im- 
mortality to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1: 8-10. 

The whole world is ashamed of Christ and His 
Gospel of redemption. If you want to be a Chris- 
tian, then be not ashamed of this most holy and 
most glorious work. The devil has accomplished that 
men not only feel ashamed of Christ, but also of 
God and everything that pertains to God. Men de- 
sire to be altogether unholy, wordly, and earthly, sen- 
suous and carnal. So deeply has the world fallen, so 
far has it departed from God. Who will save it? The 
merciful God continues to proclaim and offer His 
saving Gospel, no matter how much the world despises it. 
The voice of those who proclaim God's salvation in 
Christ is not yet silenced ; it sounds forth everywhere. 
The grace which is manifested in the incarnation, life, 
and passion of Jesus is yet praised. Still it is proclaimed 
loudly, "Christ has by His death destroyed death and has 
brought life and immortality to light, has reconciled us 
with God, has redeemed and bought us to God and has 
earned an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and 
that fadeth not away, for us in heaven." If you have be- 



25 

come a partaker of this grace, then be not ashamed of it. 
Let your heart rejoice therein. Confess and praise 
Him and His work of redemption before the whole 
world. For He deserves it, and man, miserable as he is, 
can not be helped except by Him who was born in the 
stable, who died on the cross, and who now sits at the 
right hand of God. Nevertheless, do not confess and 
glory in Christianity with your mouth only, but also 
with your whole being and life; then you shall soon 
count more partakers of the same grace and joy. 

Love caused Thy incarnation, 
Love brought Thee down to me. 
Thy thirst for my salvation 
Procured my liberty. 
O Love beyond all telling, 
That lead Thee to embrace, 
In love all love excelling, 
Our lost and fallen race. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest 
thou without? And the man came into the house. Gen. 24: 
31. 32. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my 
Father will love him, and we wil come unto him, and make 
our abode with him. John 14: 23. 

Oh, that you as hospitably and readily would re- 
ceive Him who stands at the door of your heart and 
knocks; as kindly and heartilv ask Him in, and 
escort Him into your heart, as Laban received Abra- 
ham's servant, when he saw the beautiful gifts, the 
bracelets, and the rings, which he had brought with him 
for his sister ! Oh, that you might just as heartily long 
to possess your Savior ! Then would He bring with Him 
much more for you than Eliezer brought for Re- 
bekah and Laban. He would as readily enter in to 
you, and lo ! He would bring His Father with Him 
also. If He does not give you bracelets and rings, 
yet He will place the bond of perfectness, eternal love, 
heavenly peace, everlasting life, the kingdom of heaven, 
in your heart. The centurion who asked the Savior 
to speak a word only to heal his servant, and dared 



26 

not invite Him to come Himself, received this an- 
swer, "I will come" (Mat. 8). Shall He not come 
to you, when you cry unto Him night and day, "Lord 
Jesus, come Thou Thyself unto me?" Yes, He comes 
to every soul who heartily longs for Him. He verily 
does not remain away. He became man just because it 
was His delight to be among the children of men. He 
will not leave us fatherless ; he comes to us and remains 
with us forever, which He has said not once, but many 
times. Shall not He keep His word, who is the true 
and faithful witness? 

Welcome, O my Savior, now! 
Hail! my Portion, Lord, art Thou! 
Here, too, in my heart I pray: 
O prepare Thyself a way. 



THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the 
desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be ex- 
alted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and 
the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places 
plain. Is. 40: 3. 4; Mat. 3: 3. Behold, I will send my 
messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and 
the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, 
even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in. 
Mai. 3:1. 

The Lord exhorts us to prepare the way for Him. 
He also promises to send His messenger to prepare 
the way. It is, therefore, not we alone who do it. For 
that reason we should not be discouraged and ask, "How 
shall I be able to prepare the way for God, the Most 
High?" You shall desire it, and rejoice to see that 
the Lord comes to you and into your heart. Only sur- 
render your heart. Long for Him. Give the present 
tenants of your heart, your pride, your faint-heartedness, 
your coldness, your indolence, their dismissal. Let it be 
your will because it is the Lord's will. Only offer your- 
self. The Lord will send His messenger to meet you, His 
preparatory grace to repentance, power to a change of 
mind, by which all paths are made "straight" for the 
Lord, and by which the most beautiful way is pre- 



27 

pared into your heart. The Lord gives us what He de- 
mands from us, what by His coming into the heart He 
assumes in us. When He says, "Prepare the way for 
me, that I may come unto you," He means, "Let me 
prepare the way to your heart ; let me come unto you ; 
open up unto me, when I knock ; hear my voice, when I 
call you ; do not run away from me ; do not barricade the 
way against me ; do not turn away from me when I 
turn unto you. Do not be self-sufficient. Do not trust 
in your own virtue and strength, because this is a moun- 
tain in the way, and it must be carried off. Do not doubt 
my grace and mercy, . because this doubt is the valley 
that must be filled with confidence in me. Do not 
seek yourself, nor honor, nor pleasure, nor anything be- 
side me, because these are crooked ways that must be 
made straight with the hoaest intention of pleasing me. 
All crude prejudices must be made plain and be changed 
into the purest longing and desire to become one 
with me." 

Prepare your hearts to meet Him, 

Ye sons of men, prepare! 

Make straight the way, and greet Him, 

The Savior draweth near. 

He leaves His heavenly throne 

To be our humble brother, 

Born of the Virgin Mother, 

And yet God's only Son. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. 
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, 
For it is a good thing that the heart be established with 
grace. Heb. 13: 8. 9. But the mercy of the Lord is from 
everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. Ps. 
103: 17; 117: 2. 

Unbelief always rests upon this sandy foundation, 
"It is not now as in former days ; God no longer 
performs miracles nor does He reveal Himself as He did 
in former times." 

But if this were true. He, the Unchangeable, would 
have ceased to be the God, Savior, Redeemer, and Father 



28 

of men ; He would have altered His nature and essence. 
Only possess the faith of the fathers, and their piety, and 
you shall also possess and perceive the ancient God. All 
His promises in the Scriptures pertain to all times, to all 
days, even unto "the end of the world'*' (Mat. 28: 20). 
"His name shall be continued as long as the sun ; and 
men shall be blessed in Him" (Ps. J2: 17). "In Him 
shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12: 
3). In all times, through all centuries, at all places, He 
is and remains the same, performs the same miracles 
and manifests the same grace, if only He is appropriated 
by faith. He who does not have the same God as the 
Fathers had, has not the same faith as they had; he 
has departed from the living God. He who does not 
have and perceive the same Christ as the apostles had 
and perceived, does not have the same faith as they 
had; he has deserted the Christian, apostolic faith. 
Either Christ has not been such as He is represented in 
the Gospel, or He is still the same, and shall remain the 
same throughout all eternity. Why did He not perform 
as many mighty deeds in His native city as in Judea? 
Because of their unbelief (Mat. 13: 58). Why does He 
no longer seem the same to our century? Because of 
its unbelief. Believe as Paul, love as John, and you 
shall have the Christ of Paul and John. 

Shine on our hearts, eternal God! 
With rays of beauty shine; 
O, let Thy favor crown our days, 
And all their round be Thine. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper 
of the Lamb. Rev. 19: 9. Friend, how comest thou in hither 
not having a wedding garment? Mat. 22: 12. 

The marriage of the Lamb is gloriously described. 
(Rev. 19). What jubilation and exultation are heard 
there! (v. 6. 7). As the voice of a great multitude, 
as the voice of many waters, as the voice of mighty 
thunderings, it is sounded forth, "Let us be glad and 
rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His 



29 

wife hath made herself ready, adorned for the marriage." 
And how is she adorned? Arrayed in fine linen, clean 
and white — His costly linen, His righteousness — the bride 
appears at His marriage supper ! How blessed is he 
that is called unto this supper, who comes in the 
shining linen of His righteousness, in the festive garb! 
But the parasite (Mat. 22) who had no wedding 
garment on, and who for that reason was ejected, is, 
without doubt, the patron lord of those who would re- 
ceive Christ's righteousness without putting it on 
and do not in reality appear in its shining beauty. 
When it is said, ''And to her (the bride) was granted 
that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white : 
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints," then 
we should bear in mind two things : first, that this gar- 
ment must be given, bestowed and presented to us ; that 
it can not be produced by any man through his own 
power ; and secondly, that the saints accept it, ap- 
propriate it, put it on, and walk in it. Consequently, the 
virtues of Christ, or His righteousness, are also called 
"the righteousness of the saints," inasmuch as they have 
put on and appropriated Christ, His mind and Spirit, 
and inasmuch as their earnest endeavors, all their 
thoughts and aspirations, are to be adorned with this fine 
"linen" unto the day of the Lamb, the day of the Bride- 
groom, that they may be accepted by Him. 

Their joyful anthems raise, 

Till heaven re-echoes with the tone 

Of that great hymn of praise, 

And all its blessed throng 

Unite ther myriad voices 

In one eternal song. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN 
ADVENT. 



I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth 
on me should not abide in darkness. John 12: 46. For the 
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all 
men. Tit. 2: 11. 

Christ's birth was like the sun rising upon a world 
buried in night and darkness. Yea, He is the Dayspring 



• 30 

from on high that has visited us who "sit in darkness 
and in the shadow of death" (Luke i: 78. 79). "In 
Him was life ; and life was the light of men." Therefore 
the apostles declared with all frankness, "Life was mani- 
fested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew 
unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, 
and was manifested unto us" (1 John 1:2). This life, 
this light, was "full of grace and truth" (John 1: 14), 
full of mercy and love to man. What a night, then, 
was the night of Christ's birth ! Then the brightest sun 
was shining. It is not without its significance that Christ 
was born in the night. You should learn from this that 
with Him was the light born, that the light came into 
the night of this world ; and that everything is darkness 
and black night in all men if Christ, the Light of the 
World, arise not in them. He who does not possess 
the Light of Life is and remains full of dark- 
ness throughout all eternity. A dead light can not 
help those who are dead. All have been in need of a 
living and life-giving light, and we must needs have the 
same. This light is not extinguished when all the lights 
of earth and sky are 'extinct. But it is revealed that 
it may shine for you ; that you may be enlightened by it ; 
and that you may walk in its radiance. For if you walk 
in darkness, and if you love the deeds of darkness, you 
are among the children of night and death, who love 
darkness rather than light. 

O, how shall I receive Thee, 
How greet Thee, Lord, aright? 
All nations long to see Thee, 
My hope, my heart's delight! 

O kindle, Lord, most holy, 
Thy lamp within my breast, 
To do in spirit lowly 
All that may please Thee best. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 



The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to 
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mat. 20: 



3i 

28. That he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify 
unto himseif a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit. 
2: 14. 

Verily, He has taken upon Himself the form of a 
servant! He who was in the form of God and had 
the divine nature; He whom all the angels of God 
worshipped, whose slightest beck they stood ready to 
obey with lightning-like rapidity, is revealed upon 
earth to become the servant of man. Nor could any 
outward glory be seen in Him as long as He went about 
on earth. He' was of men the most despised. Al- 
though He was the Lord of all lords, yet He went 
voluntarily into captivity that He might redeem the 
servants from their captivity. If a man who is called 
lord, should do this for his servants, he would be ad- 
mired ; and yet it would be nothing compared with what 
the Son of God has done for us. For He is not become 
the servant of His equals, but the Creator has become 
the servant of His creatures, yea, of fallen, faithless, 
sinful, and godless creatures. Take your place at the 
Lord's manger and consider Him in relation to yourself. 
Behold, dear soul, the God of heaven and earth lies there 
for you, and in your behalf, in the form of a servant, in 
poverty and humility, wrapped in swaddling-clothes as 
a feeble child. In your behalf He served as a bondrrian 
thirty-three years that He might set you free from 
bondage. And yet you will not surrender yourself to 
Him even now, after He is exalted above all things, 
having all power in heaven and upon earth in His 
hand ; will you not regard it as the highest honor to 
serve this Lord who has been your servant so long? 
Consider this well. 

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, 
Born to set Thy people free; 
From our fears and sins release us, 
Let us find our rest in Thee. 
Israel's Strength and Consolation, 
Hope of all the earth Thou art; 
Dear desire of every nation, 
Joy of every longing heart. 



32 
FRIDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring 

forth a son He shall be great, and shall be called the 

Son of the Highest. Luke 1: 31. 32. And the word was made 
flesh, and dwelt among us. John 1: 14. Great is the mys- 
tery of godliness: God was manifest \n the flesh. 1 Tim. 
3: 16. 

"For which cause He is not ashamed to call them 
brethren" (Heb. 2: 11). "Forasmuch' as the children 
are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself like- 
wise took part of the same" (Heb. 2: 14) in order to 
redeem them therefrom. His love compelled Him, so 
that He was willing to have all things in common with 
us, sin excepted. This is a mystery which can never be 
too much admired and adored, "The Word was made 
flesh/' a passage before which the Fathers bowed their 
knees as often as they quoted it. If you will not do 
that, let your heart at least bow down. We should 
never have come to God if God had not first come 
to us. We were too deeply sunk in depravity. God had 
to step down from His glory ; no other hand could reach 
so far down; no power, no love was great enough to 
help us ur. But now our joy is unspeakable, and this 
thought, God is become man, God is made flesh, should 
elevate us above other things, and make our souls per- 
fectly happy. Nevertheless, Christ for us, made mani- 
fest in the flesh, can not be to us what He should be, 
and would be; He must be made manifest in our flesh, 
that is to say, in us. He has also promised this to all 
(John 14: 21 — 23). Concerning this the apostle: Paul 
also speaks, as concerning a fact well known among 
Christians, "But when it pleased God to reveal His 
Son in me" (Gal. 1: 15. 16). However little people 
nowadays like to hear this truth, it is nevertheless in- 
dispensable. No one can be acceptable to God unless 
he is revealed in Christ, and Christ in him. 

This is the Christ, our God and Lord, 
Who in all need shall aid afford; 
He will Himself our Savior be, 
From all our sins to set us free. 



33 

CHRISTMAS EVE. 



For what the law cou4d not do, in that it was weak through 
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the 
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk 
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. 8: 3. 4. 

Nothing good could be expected from us before 
Christ came; but now God expects everything from us, 
having given us His Son and all things with Him. He 
expects as much and no more than He has given us. 
The image and the nature of Jesus must be developed in 
us; we must be made like unto Him. To that end is 
He given to us. He who does not use Him thus, from 
him will be taken that which he has or which he seemk 
to have. Jesus will imprint Himself or His image ami 
nature in us; He will be born, and attain to the perfect 
man in us (Eph. 4: 13). Only the least number among 
men know whereunto Jesus is given, what He wants to 
be and what He can be to them. He who knows 
and comprehends this, cannot sufficiently admire God's 
grace and love, but he strives to reach the goal and 
God's admirable purpose. The Father loves His Son 
so dearly that He much desires to see His impress on 
all men, to see His image shine forth in them and from 
them. No man can be acceptable to Gotd, or be accept- 
able to Him, in whom God does not see Jesus, His 
Son, His image and His nature. Do you know, my be- 
loved, for what purpose you live and what your object 
in life is? It is high time that you receive Jesus 
in your heart, in your mind, and in your whole being. 
If not, He will be taken from you as the entrusted talent 
was taken from the slothful servant. 

Oh, dearest Jesus, holy Child, 
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, 
Within my heart, that it may be 
A quiet chamber kept for Thee. 



34 

CHRISTMAS DAY. 



And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped 
him in swadd'ling clothes, and laid him in a manger; be- 
cause there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2: 7. 
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little 
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mat. 
18: 4. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth 
the needy out of the dunghill. Ps. 113: 7. 

God's only Begotten becomes the first-born of an 
humble virgin, lies in a stable, in a manger, wrapped in 
wretched swaddling-clothes. This is He who> spreads 
out the •heavens as a garment and cbntains the ocean and 
all the ends of the earth as in a bucket. What greatness ! 
What humility! God's Son in swaddling-clothes! We 
see here the will of God. Even though God, as some 
say, has sent His Son. into the world to serve as an 
example and a pattern only, come and see what an 
example lies in the manger. Come here and learn 
humility and meekness from this God-given pattern. 
Learn here to lay aside your pride, haughtiness, conceit, 
vainglory, your self-importance, and high-soaring 
thoughts and endeavors, and bring it all as a sacrifice 
to this Little One. The Creator of the heavens and the 
earth has barely room to be born in, and for your dense 
and broad pride the world is too narrow; you have 
nowhere room to spread out and to make yourself 
as important as you wish. Now let Jesus be your ex- 
ample ! Become as small as He. Then you will be the 
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Try it, and you 
shall soon find that He will become infinitely more 
to you, that without Him you cannot even accom- 
plish the least, that of becoming small, — how then, 
should you become great? Begin by becoming small, 
like Jesus. Become insignificant in your own eyes, 
poor in spirit: then the poor little Child shall lay 
itself in your heart and lift you out of the dust and 
the dross and make you great. For what are your 
pride and lofty fancies but dust and dross? Away with 
it all ! Go to the Christ-child. Consider Him rightly. 
Surrender yourself to Him. Then you will become 
something ; otherwise you will never amount to anything. 



35 

Nor deem the form too lowly 
That clothes Him at this hour; 
For know ye what it hideth? 
'Tis God's almighty power. 
Though now within the manger 
So poor and weak He lies, 
He is the Lord of all things, 
He reigns above the skies. 



THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS. 



And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe 

wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and 
the babe lying in the manger. Luke 2: 12-16. Unto us a 
child is born, unto us a son is given. Is. 9: 6. 

God of mercy! God's Son a babe in swaddling- 
clothes! And lying- in a manger! "God be merciful!" 
the shepherds thought when they saw the child. This 
was the sign by which they were to know the Son of 
God, the Messiah. In all likelihood, none of the sign- 
interpreters in Israel thought of this sign. But the poor 
shepherds knew it now, because the Lord had told it to 
them at the proper time. Only be true and faithful to 
the Lord, and He shall give you the sign. Do not cudgel 
your brain ; do not break your heart, but prepare a 
habitation for the Child, a manger and swaddling-clothes. 
The sign shall come to you and you shall understand. 
It is easy for me to believe that the whole world cannot 
submit to the ways of God, to a Savior who is offered 
to them in swaddling-clothes. He pursues such courses 
as are offensive and intolerable to all the world. Who- 
soever will submit to Him must turn his back upon the 
world, its mind and its manners. If not, he will be 
offended every moment with God and Jesus. Come, my 
beloved, we will not heed the world ; let it pass. Go with 
me to the manger, and do not become offended with the 
poor swaddle, the manger, the stable. Look at the Child 
lying therein. What would a house of gold profit you if 
it were occupied by bats and vultures? Do not dress 
and decorate yourself as is customary with the world. 



36 

Do not conform yourself to the fashions and usages of 
the world, but to the will of God, so that you become 
pure and little, poor and humble. Then God will lay 
His Son in your heart ; then you have all you need. 

To Thee, then, O Jesus, this day of Thy birth, 
True Godhead incarnate, omnipotent Word! 
O come, let us hasten to worship the Lord! 



DECEMBER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH. 



Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw 
it and was glad. John 8: 56. This is the day which the 
Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118: 
24. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch 
of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute 
judgment and righteousness in the land. Jer. 33: 15. Yea, 

a/id all the prophets have likewise foretold of 

these days. Acts 3: 24. 

How long a time before the incarnation of the Son 
of God "Abraham rejoiced" ! Should not we rejoice, 
who know the event after it 'has come to pass, and who 
can perceive its blessings in our own hearts ? How in- 
tent the old covenant saints were upon this event ! How 
they lifted up their heads and looked forward to this 
day, wondering if it were not soon to come ! And yet 
so many Christians, for whom the day comes, do not 
rejoice in it! Nevertheless, he who partakes of that 
which the Lord's birth has brought him, can not but 
rejoice. The "Branch" of righteousness, the coming of 
which Isaiah proclaims, has grown up. The tree stands 
there, the Tree of life, into which we may all be 
grafted, become righteous and blessed and grow to 
divine greatness. The King is here who executes judg- 
ment and righteousness to all who submit to Him, volun- 
tarily become His subjects, and surrender themselves 
wholly to Him. He does not compel any one to enter 
into His kingdom. He calls us graciously, and gives us 
the most precious promises ; but the Lord mourns over 
him who will not suffer himself to be drawn to Him, 
and bears with him as long as possible. Oh, what a 



37 

divine King ! Do you know the day when He was born 
to you and became your King ? 

He rules the world with truth and grace, 
And makes the nations prove 
The glories of His righteousness, 
And wonders of His love. 



DECEMBER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. 



Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
toward men. Luke 2: 14. 

Thus sang the angels of God in the skies at the birth 
of the Savior of the world. Thus sings now and forever- 
more redeemed humanity. Thus sing the children 
of peace, who have received remisison of sins as well 
as peace through His incarnation, and His birth. But 
those in whom "Christ, who is our peace" (Eph. 2: 14) 
is not yet born, can not sing thus. Where sin and the 
world yet live and rule there is no occasion for songs 
of peace nor for songs to the glory of God. As long 
as a man does not receive Him whom God has sent to 
his salvation, he does not give the glory to God, nor 
does God give him peace. Child of man, give God the 
glory, and He will give you peace, He will give you 
His Son. Give the glory to God. Confess before Him 
that you are a condemned sinner for whom God's 
Son must needs come down from heaven, that He may 
suffer your guilt of sin, redeem and save you. Ac- 
knowledge and confess this with an humble and contrite 
heart and ask God to give you His Son, that, through 
grace you may partake of Him. Thus you give God 
the glory. "Now God has received the glory due to Him : 
therefore, peace be unto this man ! The good will of 
God rests upon him." Of what use is the angels' song 
to you otherwise ? Of what use can it be to you as long 
as the jingle of the world and sin resounds in you, and 
there is no peace in your heart? 

Hark, a new song rends the sky, 
"Glory be to God on high, 
Peace on earth, good will to men, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem." 



38 

DECEMBER THE TWENTY-NINTH. 



My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until 
Christ be formed in you. Gal. 4: 19. Know ye not that 

/our bodies are the members of Christ that your 

body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you 

therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, 

which are God's. 1 Cor. 6: 15. 19. 20. 

Why should the Holy Ghost dwell in the hearts of 
Christians if not to testify concerning Christ and 
glorify Christ in them? The Holy Ghost has no 
other office, no other work in man than to restore 
the new man, Christ, in all, that the image of 
God, which is Christ, once more may be renewed 
and glorified in us all. As Christ was formed bodily in 
the womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost, so- 
He must be formed spiritually in every true Christian. 
This was also the sense of the apostles ; this was the 
object of their work; for this they often suffered great 
agony and pain until Christ was formed in the believers, 
until they had wholly put on Christ ; not in the usual, 
profane conception of the code of morals, not by accept- 
ing a few of his sentiments, but Christ's own mind and 
Spirit, Christ's life and essence, nature and attributes, 
not by human power and skill, but by being born 
again, begotten from above by the Holy Ghost, so that 
they lived no longer, but Christ lived in them. Such is 
a true, spiritual Christmas ; thus we celebrate Christ's 
nativity. He therefore, who finds and worships the new- 
born Babe in his heart, has become a "partaker of Christ" 
(Heb. 3: 14), and can rejoice in His birth. The others 
know not what they do. They celebrate the festival of 
Christ's birth as they might celebrate the birthday of a 
prince, and not even thus joyfully, for Christ does not 
seem to concern them as much. 

Born Thy people to deliver, 
Born a child and yet a King; 
Born to reign in us for ever, 
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 



39 



By Thine own eternal Spirit, 
Rule in all our hearts alone; 
By Thine all sufficient merit, 
Raise us to Thy glorious throne. 



THE SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 



Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and 
said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 
according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salva- 
tion, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 
a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people 
Israel. Luke 2: 28-32. 

Do not envy pious Simeon, for you may have Jesus 
just as near, yea, even nearer than he had Him. He had 
Him upon his arms ; but Jesus will come to you, into 
your heart, and be one spirit with you, live, dwell, and 
move in you. Stretch forth the arms of your soul, and 
of your faith, and of your love for Him. Open your 
heart to the newborn Savior as Simeon did, who longed 
for Him during his whole life, who waited for Him as 
the consolation of Israel ; who, knowing of no other joy 
than that of beholding Him, would gladly die after 
having seen Him. Such hearts desire to receive Him, 
and they most assuredly do receive Him. If there be 
nothing else in your soul but ardent desire and burning 
thirst for Him, then He is certainly in this thirst, in 
this desire ; then shall He certainly reveal Himself 
to your longing and thirsting heart, so that you 
shall prize the joy of possessing Him above all 
the joys of life; you shall no longer live to the world, 
yourself, and sin, but unto Him who has given Himself 
to you. This Child is born unto all. (Is. 9:6). He 
lies before the eyes of all in His Word; by the preach- 
ing of the Gospel He is offered to us and engrafted in 
our hearts. (James 1: 21). Take Him, then, up in 
your arm's ; lift Him by faith and love out of the Word ; 
ensconse Him in your heart, for He is willing and able 
to save your soul. 



40 



Sin, death, and hell, and Satan 

Have lost their victory; 

This child shall overthrow them, 

As ye shall surely see. 

Their wra'th shall naught avail them; 

Fear not, their reign is o'er; 

This child shall overthrow them, — 

O, hear and doubt no more! 



NEW YEAR'S EVE. 



I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should 
teach. Job 32: 7. Lord, let it alone this year also, till I 
shall dig about it, and dung it. Luke 13: 8. 

When the years speak, what do you hear? What 
does God hear? What do the brethren hear about you? 
The deduction you make can be nothing else but 
this: Repent! All your days cry out to you, Bet- 
ter yourself! The Lord comes to-day into His 
vineyard seeking after fruit. When He stops be- 
fore the tree of your life and asks your days, 
and, more particularly, the days of this year, what do 
they answer? Does He find the desired fruit? Much 
grace has He bestowed upon you ; much has He given 
you, but to whom much is given, of him shall much be 
required. The Father says, "Years have I come to" seek 
after fruit on this tree, but have found none ; cut it 
down." What if this were resolved to-day in 'heaven? 
Is it not possible? Have you not deserved it? 
At all events I have. What, then, must we do? We 
must, without delay, and with all our heart, go to- Jesus, 
fall on our face before Him, who is our only mediator, 
and beseech Him to appear in our stead before the 
Father to make intercession for us. Then He will 
in our behalf, for you and for me, say unto the 
Father, "Let him alone this year also, till I shall dig 
about him, and dung him ; then, perhaps, he will bear 
fruit ; and if not, Thou shalt cut him down." Behold, it 
is due only to the intercession of Jesus that God has 
given you so many years. But, perhaps the coming 
year will be your last. Therefore, use it, and 






41 

keep close to your God and Savior, that He shall 
not have occasion to say, "Cut him down; why cum- 
bereth he the ground?"' God is long-suffering, which 
may be seen in His patience at the time of Noah; but 
the longer respite they were given, the greater became 
their wickedness. At length He let His judgment break 
loose. The ancient God still lives. Close, therefore, this 
year with earnest prayer and supplication that God may 
not cut you down, but, through Jesus, renew your heart 
unto true repentance and betterment, and that He may 
grant you a life according to His own pleasure. 

Before Thou shaft as judge appear, 

Plead as my intercessor; 

And on that awful day declare 

That I am Thy confessor. 

Then bring me to that blessed place 

Where I may see, with open face, 

The glory of Thy Kingdom. 



JANUARY THE FIRST. 



Thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name 
is from everlasting. Is. 63: 16. Neither is there salvation 
in any other: for there is none other name under heaven 
given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4: 12. 

"Blessed be His glorious name" (Ps. 72: 19). "Thy 
name is as ointment poured forth" (Cant. 1: 3). Oh, 
that He this day would pour forth all His ointment upon 
us that, throughout the whole year, we might walk in the 
fragrance of that anointing, in the sanctifying power of 
that holy name ! Oh that the divine power of the Holy 
Ghost, with which He is anointed "without meas- 
ure" (Ps*. 45: 8; John 3: 34; Acts 10: 38), might 
not only pour itself forth into our own hearts, 
but diffuse its life-giving incense over all the world, 
and not only to-day, but every day stream down 
upon us to fill, like spikenard, the whole house of 
our heart and life with its perfume! (John 12: 
3). He is Father; He is Redeemer, a fatherly Re- 
deemer, and a redeeming Father. As such the ancients 
knew Him and named Him, rejoiced in Him, praised 



42 

Him, and trusted in Him, before He was known and 
named to them as He is known and named to us: 
the glorious name Jesus Christ, God above all, blessed 
for ever. Should we not rejoice in Him, the corner- 
stone of our faith and life, our eternal hope, our love? 
His name is, indeed, a complete Bible, a book of God; 
a testament that contains old and new things ; a de- 
pository in which all the treasures of God's wisdom and 
knowledge lie hidden ; God's epistle that proclaims the 
whole plan of our salvation ; a fountain, a well from 
which we may draw all we need for life and a God-like 
conversation. Let us enter the new year, confidently 
believing that everything in it shall prosper for us. Let 
us begin and end each day in the year, each hour in the 
day, with that name. Let us work and rest, watch and 
sleep, eat and drink, in that name. Let us do> everything 
and suffer everything in that name. Let us abide in it 
forever. Amen ! 

Jesus! Name of wondrous love! 
Name all other names above! 
Name at which must every knee 
Bow in deep humility. 

Jesus! Only name that's given 
Under all the mighty heaven, 
Whereby man, to sin enslaved, 
Bursts his fetters, and is saved. 

Jesus! Name of wondrous love! 
Human name of Him above! 
Pleading only this we flee, 
Helpless, O our God, to Thee. 



JANUARY THE SECOND. 



I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending 
saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to 
come, the Almighty. Rev. 1: 8. 

If Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the 
ending, then let Him be not only your Alpha, but also 
your Omega. Begin not only with Jesus, but end a/so 
with Him; or rather, let Him finish that which He has 



43 

begun in you. There are many who remain standing 
at Alpha, who are satisfied with the rudiments, with the 
first letters in Christianity, with the first emotions, or 
even with good resolutions, with which, as the ancients 
said, "the road to hell is paved." The continuance in 
piety and the earnest practice thereof are wanting, (i 
Tim. 4: 7. 8; 2 Tim. 3:5). 

How can Omega, the ending, be attained when one 
remains leisurely at the beginning? Nor must Alpha 
be overlooked. You must not try to reach the ending 
before you have learned Alpha, before a good foundation 
is laid, and a right beginning is made in and with Christ. 
( 1 Cor. 3:11). It is not in vain that Jesus proclaims 
Himself as Alpha and Omega. He wants to be all to 
you. Where once He has said Alpha, He will also say 
Omega; where He begins, He will sustain His cause 
unto victory. His Alpha is urito us a pledge that He 
will also be our Omega. My faith, be bold, and trust 
therein ! 

Jesus, my Truth, may Way, 

My sure, unerring Light, 

On Thee my feeble soul I stay, 

Which Thou wilt lead aright. 

My Wisdom and my Guide, 
My Counsellor Thou art: 
O, let me never leave Thy side 
Nor from Thy paths depart. 

Thou seest my feebleness, 
Jesus, be Thou my Power, 
My Help and Refuge in distress, 
My Fortress and my Tower. 



JANUARY THE THIRD. 



Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehova is 
everlasting strength. Is. 26: 4. Hope to the end for the 
grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of 
Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1: 13. 

Trust in the Lord! That does not mean, Fold your 
hands in your lap and be unconcerned about your salva- 
tion ; but it does mean, Go to the work with unshaken 



44 

courage, and with unbounded confidence. The Lord 
is an invincible rock, an indomitable fortress, not 
only to Himself, but also to you. When you throw 
yourself into this fortress, His grace will keep you and 
strengthen you by his almighty power unto all things. 
Trust in grace alone ! That does not mean, Do nothing 
yourself; let grace effect it; but it does mean, When 
you, with all possible zeal, are striving after salvation, 
do not rely upon yourself; trust not in yourself and in 
your own strength; but trust in that grace which never 
departs from you, and in which you can do all things; 
which grace, however, cannot save you apart from your- 
self, that is to say, unless you earnestly desire to be 
saved ; for as you cannot do anything without it, neither 
can nor will it work in you apart from yourself. 

Jesus, Thou art my Righteousness, 
For all my sins were Thine; 
Thy death hath bought of God my peace, 
Thy life hath made Him mine. 

Forever here my rest ?hall be, 
Close to Thy bleeding side; 
This all my hope and all my plea: 
For me the Savior died. 

My dying Savior and my God, 
Fountain for guilt and sin, 
Sprinkle me ever with Thy blood, 
And cleanse, and keep me clean. 



JANUARY THE FOURTH. 



He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no 
might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint 
and be weary, aJid the young men shall utterly fall: But 
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; 
They shall moujit up with wings as eagles, they shall run, 
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Is. 
40: 29-31. 

Young people, T)rave beginners, who rely on 
themselves, and think they lack nothing; who caper 
and would leap over others, often fall pitifully to 



45 

their humiliation. On the other hand, he who feels him- 
self weak and insignificant, must not grow weary nor 
despondent; the Lord is his strength. The strength of 
the Lord is made perfect in those who are weak, not in 
those who are strong. He gives sufficiency to those who 
realize their insufficiency; but those who feel suf- 
ficient in themselves He permits to sink. Therefore, do 
not lose courage, ye who realize and lament your own 
weakness ; for the Lord tells you through His prophet, 
that in Him sufficient strength lies in readiness for you. 
Appropriate it in believing and constant prayer ; He 
gives strength to the weary supplicants. O ye who are 
weary, come unto the God-given source of power, to 
Christ ! He will revive you. Who is losing courage ? 
The Lord is here and will strengthen. The Omni- 
potent, the Almighty, calls you. Will you not come to 
Him? Would you rather remain lying in your helpless- 
ness even when the All-powerful reaches forth His hand 
to you? Grasp it, and you shall be enabled to do all 
things through Him, who strengthens you. 

Who shall dare excuse himself with his weakness 
when the Lord, the Almighty, offers him sufficient 
strength? Yea, whoever trusts in Him, though he were 
a worm in the dust, shall mount up as the eagle, in the 
strength of the Lord. 

Come, ye weary sinners, come, 
All who feel your heavy load: 
Jesus calls His wanderers home; 
Hasten to your pardoning God. 

Come, ye guilty souls opprest, 
Answer to the Savior's call: 
"Come, and I will give you rest; 
Come, and I will save you all." 

Jesus, full of truth and love, 
We thy gracious call obey: 
Take our load of guilt away. 
Faithful let Thy mercies prove. 

Fain we would on Thee rely, 
Cast on Thee our sins and care: 



4 6 

To Thine arms of mercy fly, 
Find our lasting quiet there. 

Lo, we come to Thee for ease: 
True and gracious as Thou art, 
Now our weary souls release, 
Write forgiveness on our heart. 



JANUARY THE FIFTH. 



My soul longeth, yea, even fai-nteth, for the courts of the 
Lord. Ps. 84: 31. My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh long- 
eth for Thee in a dry, thirsty land, where no water is; to 
see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the 
sanctuary. Ps. 63: 1-3. 

He who has been in the courts of the Lord, tasted 
His nearness, drunk of His fulness, feels this thirst in- 
cessantly: without the Lord, the world is a dry and 
sterile waste. He who has beheld the sanctuary 
of the Lord, which He builds for Himself in believing 
souls, the power and glory which He reveals and imparts 
to all who draw near to- Him, lies ever at His door, 
that he may enter as soon as it is opened ; to behold the 
power and the glory of the Lord in His sanctuary. 
How beautiful is this sanctuary! But without, how 
miserable! In the courts of the Lord, in His sanc- 
tuary, one feels at home, but outside one feels 
as in a desert, as in a strange land. With ardent 
longing the soul seeks the sanctuary and feels blest 
as often as it finds it. Why are so many lan- 
guishing, cold, and destitute? Because they do not seek 
the sanctuary of the Lord; because they do not long 
for His courts ; because they do not lie at His door 
and wait for His grace. For that reason it is 
not opened unto> them ; for that reason they cannot en- 
ter and behold His power and glory. Oh, come; tarry 
no longer in the land where there is no water. 

I love Thy Zion, Lord; 

The house of Thine abode; 

The church our best Redeemer saved 

With His own precious blood. 



47 

Beyond my highest joy 

I prize her heav'nly ways, 

Her sweet communion, solemn vows, 

Her hymns of love and praise. 



JANUARY THE SIXTH. 



Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. 
Is. 45: 22. For Thy mercy is great above the heavens: and 
Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Ps. 108: 4. 

Here you see how universal is the grace of God. 
He invites all, from one end of the earth to the other ; 
all may come; all are invited; all will be received. God 
would not call them all, if there were a single one 
whom He would not receive, a single one whom He had 
destined to perdition. According to His purpose 
and determination, all the ends of the earth should be 
saved. He who is not saved, excludes himself, and fails 
to obtain salvation, not because God will not save him, 
but because he will not suffer himself to be saved. He 
calls you ; only come ! Why are there still so many 
people who do not follow this gracious invitation? 
There ought no more to dwell on earth a soul who 
should not have thrown himself into God's open arms 
of grace long ago. Why does not one tell it 
to the other ? Alas ! if all men only knew how blessed 
God would like to make them, verily, they would all be- 
come Christians. 

Oh, he embraces not only one nation with His lov- 
ing and merciful arms, but all men from one end of the 
heavens to the other. How encompassing are His arms ! 
Dear soul, do you not believe that there is room 
in His arms for you also? Grace, redemption and eter- 
nal salvation are prepared for all; His bosom is 
open to every human being who comes ; he finds 
a kind reception and room enough and salvation 
enough, though all men should come. As far as the 
heavens reach, there is a path, a way, to the grace of 
God in Christ. As long as you journey beneath the 
heavens, and beneath the clouds, you are ever beneath 
the Heaven of Grace ; so long does grace reach even to 



4 8 

you. While I see the heavens and the clouds, I 
yet behold grace, inviting, calling, saving. The heav- 
ens and the clouds declare unto me the grace of their 
God and of my God whenever I see them. Thus may you 
also declare to every human being that dwells beneath 
the heavens and the clouds that there is grace for him; 
that grace extends even unto him ; and that it is' adequate 
for him because it reaches as far as the heavens. Meas- 
ure the heavens ! Yet you have not measured grace, 
because it is greater than the heavens, as He who rias 
created the heavens and who distributes grace, is greater 
than anything which He has created. 

Weary of wandering from my God, 

And now made willing to return, 

I hear, and bow me to the rod; 

For Thee, not without hope, I mourn; 

I have an Advocate above, 

A Friend before the throne of love. 

O Jesus, full of truth and grace, 
More full of grace than I of sin; 
Yet once again I seek Thy face, 
Open Thine arms and take me in! 
And freely my backslidings heal 
And love the faithless sinner still. 

Thou knowest the way to bring me back, 

My fallen spirit to restore; 

Oh, for Thy truth and mercy's sake, 

Forgive and bid me sin no more: 

The ruins of my soul repair, 

And make my heart a house of prayer. 



THE SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 

Who then can be saved? Mat. 19: 25. He that endureth 
to the end shall be saved. Mat. 10: 22. 

There are many who would be saved, but they will 
not do that which is required in order to be saved, 
namely, to endure in piety, and to walk in the grace 
vouchsafed to the end. They wish blessedness in Christ ; 
but they also wish to be merry, or rich, or admired in 



49 

this world. Hence they may believe in Christ ; but 
withal they love the world, thinking that they can find 
some joy and blessedness in both. But they will lose 
both and be eternally wretched. Perseverance is a 
blessing for which we must daily ask the Savior on 
our knees ; for He only, who has called us unto salva- 
tion, can keep us and further us therein. Security, the 
false knowledge concerning the doctrine of grace 
without enduring therein, deceives many ; they do 
not continue to live in Him who has called and 
awakened them. They return to their slumbers and 
dream that they still live, though they remain lying 
on the pillow of mere knowledge and twaddle ; they 
do not continue in their first love. Awake, awake ! Pray 
for this one thing, the holy fire of love, which burns 
forever, and is never extinguished. 

My soul, be on thy guard; 
Ten thousand foes arise: 
And hosts of sin are pressing hard 
To draw thee from the skies. 

Oh, watch, and fight, and pray! 
The battle ne'er give o'er; 
Renew it boldly every day, 
And help divine implore. 

Ne'er think the victory won, 

Nor lay thine armor down; 

Thine arduous work will not be done, 

Till thou obtain the crown. 

Fight on, my soul, till death 
Shall bring thee to thy God! 
He'll take thee at thy parting breath, 
Up to His blest abode. 



MONDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the 
Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall 
cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the 
Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon 
thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings 
to the brightness of thy rising. Is. 60: 1-3. 



50 

Though the greater part of the Jews would not give 
room for the fruits of the Gospel, but remained in 
their darkened condition, the Gospel, however, was not 
without fruit. It has been spread throughout the world, 
and instead of the blinded Jews, it has gathered the 
Gentiles. What Isaiah here says, has been fulfilled. 
For the Gentiles have become Christians and walk 
in Christ, the true light, . by the right faith. Even 
kings, the most mighty on earth, have humbled them- 
selves in faith. — The Jews persecuted the Christians 
and thought it would be very easy to destroy this poor 
and weak people. They did not see that thereby they 
only fanned the newly started fire and drove it out 
into the wide world. By their rage they only aided 
in fulfilling the words of the prophet. For by perse- 
cution the Christians were driven out into all the world, 
so that sons and daughters of the true Israel of God 
gathered around the true Light, which is come into 
the world. This is the masterpiece of God, that 
He can accomplish His will even through His 
enemies. When they rage and would destroy His Word 
and His people, they destroy themselves and must 
further God's Word and His glory. Thus were great 
numbers of the Gentiles converted by the apostles. They 
were before in the darkness which covered the earth ; 
but now thy "light is come and the glory of the Lord is 
risen upon thee." The Gospel is called our light because 
thereby we see and know God, ourselves and all things; 
but the light in the Gospel is He of whom John says, 
"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." 
(John i: 4. 5). The Gospel is called "good news" be- 
cause it sets forth and proclaims the goodness of God, 
God's holiness, God's glory and brightness. Thus says 
Paul in Tit. 2: 11, The grace of God that bringeth 
salvation hath appeared to all men. 

"The Lord thy God will be thy light." 
The Lord grant that all we who are called Christians 
may prove ourselves to be true Christians through faith 
in the truth and sanctification of the Spirit. 



5i 

Shine on the darkened and the cold, 
Recall the wanderers to thy fold, 
Unite those now who walk apart, 
Confirm the weak and doubting heart. 



TUESDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, 
until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall 
send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the 
midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the 
day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb 
of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord 
hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever 
after the order of Melchizedek. Ps. 110: 1-4. 

Oh, my Lord Jesus, how terrible it is that the prince 
of this world shall dwell in man and hold him captive 
through sin ! I thank Thee from the depths of my heart 
that Thou hast made me meet to be a partaker of the 
inheritance of the saints in light; that Thou hast deliv- 
ered me out of the power of darkness and translated me 
into Thy Kingdom, by which I am saved and redeemed 
through Thy blood, and by which Thou hast entered into 
a new covenant with me. O Lord, grant that I may 
always remain steadfast therein and never lose Thy grace. 
Gather ever more souls into Thy Kingdom. Write us 
as Thy citizens in the book of Thy celestial city, yea, in 
Thy hands. Sustain us that we may remain forever in 
Thy Kingdom, who in baptism have had our names 
written in Thy book, entered into covenant and compact 
with Thee and promised Thee faithfulness. O come, 
Thou King of grace, into my heart and quiet all unrest 
there. Fill my life with Thy grace that Thou mayest in 
•heaven fill me with Thy eternal glory. Give unto Thy 
people power, strength and victory over all their 
spiritual and temporal enemies and make us partakers of 
the glory of Thy Kingdom, when Thou comest in Thy 
great power and glory, and all the holy angels with Thee. 
Fulfill then even on us these Thy joyful words, "Father, 
I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with 
me where I am, that they may behold my glory," and, 



52 

"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom 
prepared for you from the foundation of the world." 

Let me be Thine forever, 
Thou faithful God and Lord, 
May I forsake Thee never, 
Nor wander from Thy word; 
Keep me from error's mazes, 
Lord, give me constancy, 
And I will sing Thy praises 
Through all eternity. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior 
toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which 
we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, 
which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our 
Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made 
heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Tit. 3: 4-7. 

Behold, dear soul, how the Holy Ghost joins to- 
gether as inseparable, "kindness," "love" and "mercy," 
which are revealed to us in Christ Jesus, which shine for 
us as a heavenly light; holy baptism by which we have 
been regenerated unto a lively hope ; by which we have 
been endowed with the glory of adoption, entitled to the 
expectation of heaven, yea, by which we have put on 
Christ in Him and by Him being made to "sit together 
in heavenly places" ( I Pet. 1:3; Gal. 3 : 27 ; Eph. 2 : 
6) ; the Holy Ghost who is shed on us; with whom we 
are sealed; who dwells in us; who daily renews, leads, 
sanctifies, comforts and guides us and keeps us in the 
faith ; that righteousness which we have in the grace of 
Christ Jesus, and finally the heritage of eternal life. Con- 
sider now your Christian heart, and you shall find that 
by the grace of f God you are fashioned according thereto. 
Say out of the depths of your heart, "I am by the grace 
and mercy of God in Christ Jesus a baptized, regenerated 
and renewed Christian ; I am thus according to the 
testimony of the Holy Ghost an heir of eternal life. This 
is a faithful saying." You may, perhaps, object, "True, 



53 

the Word of God gives me hope of eternal life, but when 
I consider my many weaknesses, the enticements of the 
world and the power of Satan, I often become despond- 
ent and my hope is much shaken." I answer, It is no 
bad sign in the believers that they are full of care in 
matters appertaining to eternal salvation. They are 
thereby prompted to strive the more earnestly to enter 
in through the straight gate. But that such fears 
may not degenerate into doubt, you must ever keep the 
beautiful words before your eyes which the all-good God 
has intended for us as a cordial under such circum- 
stances, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 
and they follow me : and I give unto them eternal life ; 
and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck 
them out of my hand." (John ic: 27. 28). 

Holy Jesus! every day 
Keep us in the narrow way; 
And, when earthly things are past, 
Bring our ransomed souls at last 
Where they need no star to guide, 
Where no clouds Thy glory hide. 



THURSDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he 
that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16: 16. For God 
hath not appointed us to 'wrath, but to obtain salvation by 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5: 9. Are they not all 
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall 
be heirs of salvation? Heb. 1: 14. 

Salvation is the desire of all the children of God. 
There is nothing which is more in their hearts than this 
thought and these words, Oh, that I may be saved ! Sal- 
vation will certainly be ours if we only remain steadfast 
in the true faith in Christ and solicitous as to our salva- 
tion; for it does not rest in our hand, but in the hand 
of God by whose power we are kept unto salvation. Com- 
fort yourselves with such thoughts, ye who are unfor- 
tunate in this world. If ye pious souls seem to be the 
most unfortunate in this life, ye are nevertheless happv. 
(1 Pet. 3: 14). But the children of the world should 



54 

also consider what they despise and lose, namely, the 
salvation of their souls. What shall it help us if we 
have everything else but lose salvation? "What is a man 
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his 
own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his 
soul" (Mat. 16: 26). No one wishes to lose anything 
which is dear to him. Shall a man deal with his soul 
in such a thoughtless manner that he must needs lose 
it? The old adage remains true: "Possessions lost, 
nothing is lost ; courage lost, the half is lost ; soul and 
salvation lost, all is lost/' "Therefore hold that fast 
which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Rev. 3: 

11). 

Jerusalem, thou city fair and high, 

Would God I were in thee! 

My longing heart to thee would fly! 

It will not stay with me; 

Far over vale and mountain, 

Far over field and plain, 

It hastens to seek its Fountain 

And quit this world of pain. 



FRIDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my 
servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Is- 
rael, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, 
as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud thy 
sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Is. 44: 21. 
22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the 
earth; for I am God, and there is none else. Is. 45: 22. Ho, 
every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that 
hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy win© 
and milk without money and without price. Is. 55: 1. 

The worship which God expects from us is that we 
regard Him as our God, believe in Him, trust in Him, 
have our pleasure and refreshment in Him, and en- 
joy Him in an intimate and close fellowship. From 
this it follows that we love, praise, worship, adore 
and glorify Him. All this the merciful God de- 
mands not so much for His own sake as for ours 
inasmuch as we thereby become more and more ht 
to draw near unto Him, and enjoy Him all the 



55 

more. For as it is His pleasure to do us good and make 
us partakers of His perfection, so it is the most accept- 
able worship we can render to Him that we seek our 
good in Him only, and that we thus heartily drink out 
of the inexhaustible, living and eternal Fountain ; enrich 
ourselves out of His treasures and abundance ; walk in 
His light, become righteous by His righteousness, sanc- 
tified by His sanctification, joyful by His joy, and peace- 
ful by His peace. From this we also learn why the 
holy Scriptures call it a divine service to suffer, to praise 
God or to preach the Gospel, to love our neighbor, to 
visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, to 
keep ourselves unspotted of the world. By these things 
we serve God and demonstrate that we are His children. 

And grant me, Lord, to do, 
With ready heart and willing, 
Whate'er Thou shalt command, 
My calling here fulfilling; 
And do it when I ought, 
With all my strength, and bless 
The work I thus have wrought, 
For Thou must give success. 



SATURDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; 
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. Prov. 6: 23. 
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written 
for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of 
the scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15: 4. And now, 
brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His 
grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an in- 
heritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20: 32. 

I praise Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that 
Thou hast given unto me Thy holy Word, in which Thou 
teachest me Thy will. O" Father, hadst Thou not 
therein revealed Thyself, L would, as the heathen, have 
remained in my foolishness, and my heart, which is 
without understanding, would have continued in dark- 
ness. Alas, Lord, before Thee do I complain that I have 
not sufficiently appreciated this Thy grace. I have not 
been constant" in searching Thv Word and in learning 



56 

Thy will. And how slow am I in living up to what 
I know ? O Thou eternal Goodness, forgive me this sin. 
Let me remain in the sound Word of Jesus and know 
the truth, that it may set me free from the service of sin. 
Thy Word is a hammer ; let it crush my hard heart ; it is 
a light, let it expel the darkness ; it is a fire, let it warm 
my cold heart, and consume everything which is contrary 
to Thy will. Cleanse my heart which is so full of worldly 
thoughts, that it may hear Thy Word, keep it, and bear 
fruit in patience by Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. 

Thanks we give and adoration 
For Thy Gospel's joyful sound. 
May the fruits of Thy salvation 
In our hearts and lives abound. 
May Thy presence 
With us evermore be found. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to 
approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we 
shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of 
thy holy temple. Ps. 65: 4. 

Who shall dwell in "the courts" of the Lord? The 
chosen to whose heart Jesus has come, whom His grace 
has drawn, who constantly feel His nearness and taste 
His goodness — these are, verily, satisfied with the bless- 
ings of His house and with the sacred things of His 
temple. For we ourselves are His "temple," says the 
Apostle Paul (i Cor. 3: 16; Heb. 3: 6), if we abide in 
Him and persevere in faith and ardent love. How 
can we lack comfort when He dwells in us as in His 
house? Who should not yearn for these courts of the 
Lord, which are so full of the riches of grace and com- 
fort? Who should not in all faithfulness remain therein 
when grace has placed him there? He who once has 
tasted how good the Lord is, who has once perceived 
His presence — oh, may he also remain in Him and no 
more seek any comfort outside of Him ! For as soon 
as he tries this, and the Lord alone is not sufficient for 



57 

him, then is he shown out of the courts of the Lord. The 
rich consolation, which flows only in the Lord's house, 
which is enjoyed only in His holy temple, in intercourse 
with Him, ceases and dries up outside of the "courts of 
the Lord." He becomes wretched and miserable, poor, 
blind and naked, even though he imagines himself to be 
"rich and increased with goods, and having need of 
nothing" (Rev. 3: 17). 

In the land of light and love; 
Pleasant are Thy courts below, 
In this land of sin and woe. 
O, my spirit longs and faints 
For the converse of Thy saints, 
For the brightness of Thy face, 
For Thy fulness, God of grace! 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



My voice shall thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the 
morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 
Ps. 5: 3. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord 
will give grace and glory; no good things will he withhold 
from them that walk uprightly. Ps. 84: 11. But unto you 
that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with 
healing is his wings. Mai. 4: 2. 

Early in the morning, in your youth, you should 
consecrate yourself to the Lord, and each day, early, lift 
yourself unto Him. You can never come too early unto 
Him. He is up and about before you are, to hear your 
voice and to join His heart with your heart. The earlier 
and the heartier you seek His face in the morning, the 
more gloriously and the more powerfully will He arise 
as your sun and appear as your shield, dispel night and 
darkness from your soul, and make your heart fruitful 
in faith and charity. The gardeners usually expose their 
plants and herbs to the morning sun. Permit the Sun 
of righteousness, which daily arises for you, to shine 
down into the garden of your soul. May you early 
accept his salutary and exhilarating rays in your heart ! 
The sun arises every day without any effort on your 
part. It passes over you and your garden without your 



58 

guiding it. You need only to open your heart; at least, 
do not close it, but with an open and yearning heart 
expose yourself to its influence and it shall enlighten, 
revive and illumine you. That which, especially is de- 
lightful in regard to this Sun of the souls is that he 
never sets and that at all seasons of the year he shines 
equally warm and clear; in the North as well as in the 
South; in the winter as well as in the summer. He 
knows of no setting and of no clouds ; for although there 
are such and they hide the sun from you, yet the mists 
ascend solely from your own marshes. He who never 
takes his eyes from the Sun, will never be forsaken by 
him. 

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear, 
It is not night if Thou be near; 
O may no earth-born cloud arise 
To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and 
Christ shall give thee light. Eph. 5: 14. Therefore let us not 
sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thes. 
5: 6. 

There is nothing which the Christian, even the 
most zealous, should fear more than to fall asleep. 
The higher the flame of love ascends, the quicker it be- 
comes extinguished if one does not place new fuel 
upon it. The sun does not shine for him who is 
asleep. He who does not awake, nor shake off his 
drowsiness, nor open his eyes, will not be enlightened 
by Christ, who is the light. Watchfulness and sober- 
ness must be renewed daily, otherwise we shall become 
like the others in this world who are dead, who have 
never been awakened from their sleep and misery; we 
shall receive the same reward as they will receive when 
they are found sleeping by Him who cometh "like a 
thief in the night." Paul wrote the above words to 
Christians in Ephesus and Thessalonica : they were 
awaked and pardoned, and he gave them much praise 



59 

But even in the best congregation, and among the 
most zealous, some are always found who have a 
great inclination to sleep, who ever need to be awakened 
lest they slumber into death. Many dream so vividly in 
their sleep that they consider themselves awake and alive. 
They become angry when one would awaken them. 
They lie in deepest slumber; only God can awaken them 
by loud calls or hard blows. May God awaken us all, 
whether our slumber be light or heavy ! For the slum- 
bering virgins sleep away the wedding feast. They come 
too late — after the door is closed. 

Watch! 'tis your Lord's command; 
And while we speak, He's near. 
Mark the first signal of His hand, 
And ready all appear. 

O happy servant he, 

In such a posture found! 

He shall His Lord with rapture see, 

And be with honor crowned. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Let not your heart be troubled. John 14: 1. I will turn 
their mourning into joy, and wil comfort them, and make 
them rejoice from their sorrow. Jer. 31: 13. As many as 1 
love I rebuke and chasten, Rev. 3: 19. 

He who believes that Jesus loves him, has no 
reason to mourn because of any disaster or suffering 
with the exception of sin; sin is the greatest disaster 
and suffering and truly deserves mourning. Yet 
even the "mourning" because of sin should not lead to 
despair, but to faith ; for the sinner, as soon as he mourns 
because of his sins, may rest assured that Jesus, the 
Friend fo sinners, loves him., seeks him, will receive and 
accept him, pardon and save him. Should not that cause 
joy? Besides, nothing of a discouraging nature befalls 
us since sorrow is sent us in love and wisdom by Him 
who strikes only that He may heal, and slays only that 
He may give life. These are chastenings of pure love, 



6o 

which should drive us nearer to Him, and unite us 
closer with Him. We are bad children. We do not 
follow God and His Word ; therefore He must bring us 
home with the rod. If we come at once, and realize His 
love, the chastisement ceases at once. Your mourning 
should therefore not darken to you the love of Jesus, 
for in that case it becomes a black cloud of hell. If you 
are mourning, then think : Jesus loves me and seeks me ; 
for that reason He chastises me. I am not close enough 
to Him, therefore will He draw me closer to Himself. 
He will love me more than I have hitherto permitted 
Him to do. 

I cannot call affliction sweet; 
And yet 'twas good to bear: 
Affliction brought me to Thy feet, 
And I found comfort there. 

Then, O my soul, to Jesus flee; 
To Him thy woes reveal! 
His eye alnoe thy wounds can see, 
His hand alone can heal. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, 
and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Ps. 141: 9. O Lord, 
thou shalt preserve them. Ps. 12: 7. And they shall fight 
against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: 'for I 
am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the 
Lord. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, 
and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. Jer. 
15: 20. 21. 

Though sin, or the flesh, or the world, or Satan, or 
all these wicked and proud forces together, assail 
you, lay snares and spread nets before you, you 
shall, nevertheless, be preserved if you only will; 
you shall be snatched out and rescued by the hand of the 
Lord. But you must be in His hand and not fight against 
the enemies with your own fists. You must, as it were, 
take your heart in your hand and bring it to the Savior, 
place it in His hand, let it remain therein, and every 



6i 

day and hour see whether it still remains there or not. 
If your heart rests in the hand of the Lord ; if you 
constantly take your heart to Him and place it in His 
hand, then shall you stand firmly against all the on- 
slaughts of the enemy, unconquerable in all temptations ; 
even your worst enemy, Satan, shall be unable to destroy 
your soul, it being in the hand of the Lord. Outside of 
that hand you are like a ball to the world, the devil and 
the flesh; you will re-enter the old course which you 
learned to abhor long ago*, and once more be overcome 
by the enemy, whom you think you have conquered and 
become a slave of your former sins. In the hand of the 
Lord you are unassailable It holds you in a secret and 
wonderful way, even when you seem to succumb. If 
you are already in the claws of the devil, grasp the hand 
of the Lord ; it shall snatch you out and deliver you from 
the powers of the enemies. 

If God Himself be for me, 

I may a host defy; 

For when I pray, before me 

My foes confounded fly. 

If unrist, the Head, befriend me, 

If God be my support, 

The mischief they intend me 

Shall quickly come to naught. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



And my people are bent to backsliding from me. Hos. 
11: 7. Bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Is. 46: 8. 
And when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of 
the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Dan. 
12: 7. 

The dispersion of the people of Israel is an illustra- 
tion of all dispersed souls that are driven out of the 
promised land of peace, who wander about excluded 
from their own, without temple and without sanctuary/ 
without High-priest and without sacrifice, and without 
their King. They seek rest but find it not. But if they 
return from their backslidings and seek the Savior in the 



62 

sanctuary, all that they have been promised will be 
fulfilled and accomplished. The Lord will dwell in them. 
Do not lose sight of this sign, ye who search the times ; 
do> not make a miscalculation with many figures. One 
thing only is needful. Bring all your figures to this One 
and remain with Him; then the day has already dawned 
in you and you will not miss that which is to come. He 
who* is not faithful in things present, who shall give 
him the things to come? He who does not use with 
heart and soul that which he has, who will give him that 
which is to come ? That which he has is taken from him. 
Indifference, sanctimonious talk without sincerity of 
heart, drives away the Spirit of grace. He always with- 
draws when we do< not show reverence in dealing with 
sacred things, when we only talk about what we ought 
to do, and not doing His will. 

When all with awe shall stand around 
To hear their doom allotted, 
O may my worthless name be found 
In the Lamb's book emblotted! 
Grant me a firm, unshaken faith; 
For Thou, my Savior, by Thy death, 
Hast purchased my salvation. 



THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 



Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove 
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that 
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Cor. 13: 5. 

The Corinthians stood in the faith, were apostolic 
Christians, brought to faith and instructed therein by 
the Apostle himself; nevertheless, he counsels them to 
make this examination and to continue therein with all 
earnestness. We are more secure than were the 
Corinthians. Should we not rather ask ourselves 
each day: Is Christ in my heart? or is He only on 
my tongue? only in my head? in Bible passages and 
memorized words? If Christ, as the good tree, be 
planted in your heart, you will know Him by the fruits. 
Where Christ is, there are also His mind and life. Where 
there is faith in Christ, there are also the fruits of faith 



63 

and charity. Where Christ dwells in the heart, there 
the devil and the world are ousted : for Christ and Belial, 
God and the world, cannot agree in the same habitation. 
If you have not the mind of Christ, a Christ-like con- 
versation and the fruits of faith, then have you 
neither Christ nor faith in Christ. If you have Him not, 
the world and Satan will not let your heart remain 
empty ; the world and Satan are in you. But you 
should give them notice to leave their habitation in you 
this very day. Not only that, but you should without 
hesitation or consideration cast them and their whole 
brood out of doors. 

Up, my soul, gird thee with power, 
Watch! to prayer betake thee; 
Lest the sudden evil hour 
Unawares o'ertake thee. 
Satan's prey 
Soon are they, 
# Who, with best endeavor, 

Watch not, pray not, ever. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



Unto thee, Lord, do I lift up my soul. Mine eyes are 
ever toward the Lord. Ps. 25: 1. 15. My soul thirsteth for 
God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear be- 
fore God? Ps. 42: 2. If any man thirst, let him come unto 
me, a/id drink. John 7: 37. 

If you do not find the Savior in your soul and 
do not feel His sacred presence, give yourself no rest 
until you find Him. Seek comfort nowhere else but 
in Him. It would be a shame if you could so> easily 
dispense with Him without whom you can find no bliss. 
It would be a sin to be without Him and to cast about 
for another. Like God's people in the old covenant, do 
not tire of seeking Him faithfully when at times He 
hides Himself from you. You are not forsaken by Him. 
He only hides Himself to test your desire and 
longing for Him. If you tire, if you cease to seek Him, 
to kmg for Him, you offend Him in such wise that He 



6 4 

departs still farther from you and in such a way that 
you must still longer be without His blessed presence. 
Where is your desire, your longing for Him ? Does your 
inner eye constantly look to Him ? Does your soul thirst 
after Him, after the living God? Are you satisfied with 
a mere cold conception of God and Christ ? Do you seek 
to detect the life and power of God and Christ in your 
heart? Do you strive to attain rest and quiet for your 
mind, to enter into the sanctuary of your soul, that you 
may be seen before the face of God and behold Him so 
far as that is possible here below? Thirst, long and 
yearn for Him as did David, as did Asaph; then, like 
they, you shall know the living God, yea, know Him in 
a higher degree than they knew Him. 

Jesus, priceless Treasure, 

Source of purest pleasure, 

Truest friend to me! 

Oh, how long I've panted, 

And my heart hath fainted, 

Thirsting, Lord, for Thee! 

Thine I am, 

Thou spotless Lamb, 

I will suffer naught to hide Thee, 

Naught I ask beside Thee. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: 
I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now and go 
about the city in the streets, and \n the broad ways I will 
seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found 
him not. Cant. 3: 1. 2. 

Blessed is the soul that thus seeks the Savior, that is 
kindled by such a longing for Him, that yearns for 
Him night and day, that cannot sleep soundly when it 
does not have Him; that must arise to seek Him in 
"the streets" and "the broad ways" of the City of God, 
in all the ways of the inner life. Those souls are 
without doubt most n^ble whom the Savior thus trains 
in seeking; whose eyes are holden so that they do 
not see Him nor know Him, although He walks, with 



6S 

them ; who have before been used to His sweet com- 
munion, but have now for a long time been unable to 
partake of the comfort of His presence as often and as 
soon as they wished ; who have therefore been 
troubled by outward tribulation and inward doubt, fear 
and temptation. The more He hides Himself from them, 
the more intense becomes their longing for Him. The 
farther He seems to withdraw from them, the more 
earnestly do they seek Him. For they know that it is 
only a trial of their love, a confirmation of their faith. 
They are convinced that He cannot in earnest leave 
them; that He cannot hate any soul that loves Him or 
flee from any soul that seeks Him. If He does with- 
draw from us, it is only that He may draw us closer^ 
to Himself, that we may the more penetrate into our* 
inner man. His withdrawal from us should only bring 
us nearer to Him, and remove that which still lies be- 
tween us and Him ; tear down the partition and give Him 
to us for ever. 

Redeemer, come! I open wide 
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide! 
Let me Thine inner presence feel, 
Thy grace and love in me reveal; 
Thy Holy spirit guide us on, 
Until our glorious goal be won! 
Eternal praise and fame 
We offer to Thy name. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, 
and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth 

r — and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness, 

and for all the prosperity, that I procure unto it. Jer. 33: 
6. 9. 

Your Savior will not only forgive you, but He will 
also comfort you ; nor will He only comfort you, but He 
will also "cure" your imperfections if it be a matter of 
importance to you and if you earnestly and constantly 
seek such healing in prayer. Yea, He will give 
you so much goodness, so much heavenly peace and un- 



66 

speakable joy and happiness, that you shall be astonished 
md hardly able to believe it. Therefore, do not place 
any barriers in the way of His love. Permit Him to 
bestow upon you all the goodness which He has intended 
for you. Do not be satisfied with the fact that He has 
forgiven you your sins of the past; suffer yourself 
to be cured radically, and let your soul be filled with 
the heavenly good things in Christ. He who bore with 
you so long when you were in your sins will, after the 
remission of your sins, elevate you to the enjoyment of 
all the blessings of salvation. When a pardoned 
soul permits the Savior and His Spirit to work freely 
in his heart and does not by thoughtlessness or distraction 
place obstructions in His way, he receives many evi- 
dences of grace and heavenly blessings. But most souls 
desire only forgiveness of sins and not cure from 
their sins, not health to the soul. Without this, however, 
they will soon lose the other. For if your sins be 
actually and truly forgiven, your heart is cured so that 
you have no more desire to commit sin. 

Left to ourselves we shall but stray; 

O lead us in the narrow way, 

With wisest counsel guide us, 

And give us steadfastness^ that we 

May henceforth truly follow Thee, 

Whatever woes betide us: 

Heal Thou gently 

Hearts now broken, 

Give some token 

Thou art near us, 

Whom we trust to light and cheer us. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! Blessed 
are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising 
thee. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I 
had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to 
dwell in the tents of wickedness. Ps. 84: 1. 4. 10. Our con- 
versation is in heaven. Phil. 3: 20. 

God's "house," God's "tabernacles," and God's, 
"courts" are not only in heaven, among the souls made 



67 • . 

perfect, and among the angels, but also here below, 
in believing and pardoned souls, in the most holy of 
your heart. When we betake ourselves there, and 
remain there, we are His house and tabernacles of 
peace. For we find God, and in Him heaven, and 
we walk in Him as in heaven. If we do not find 
Him at once, but wait for His presence, we stand 
in the courts of the Lord, and although it oftentimes 
is hard to remain here because of the draught, yet this 
is better than to divert ourselves among the tents of the 
wicked and run after the amusements of the senses and 
of the world. For when we dwell in His courts, and 
continue to wait for Him, He will surely come and take 
us into His tabernacles. The trying suspense through 
hours, days and years, is then rewarded in a moment. 
You will praise the Lord and sing with David, "How 
amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts !" 

Yes, my God, I come before Thee, 
Come Thou also down to me; 
Where we find Thee and adore Thee 
There a heaven on earth must be. 
To my heart, O enter Thou, 
Let it be Thy temple now. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 



I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as 
the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not 
upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked 
upon me: my mother's children were angry with me. Cant. 
1: 5. 6. 

The true Church of Christ, as well as the real chil- 
dren of God are "black" and uncomely in the eyes of the 
world, partly because of their lowly estate ; partly because 
they are few in number against the great multitude of 
the world, and partly because of the tribulations that 
befall them. But the more "comely" and beautiful is their 
inner form in the eyes of God. Outwardly they re- 
semble the poor tents of the Kedarines in desolate Arabia, 
but inwardly they are, because of the gifts of the Holy 



68 

Ghost and His blessings, as glorious as Solomon's 
curtains that were wrought in gold. Therefore take no 
offence at the outward blackness of Christ's bride. She 
has become so tanned and swarthy from the heat of 
persecutions and temptations that she resembles one 
"afflicted, tossed with the tempest, and not comforted" 
(Is. 54: 11). Nor is she vexed by unbelievers, Jews, 
Gentiles and Turks alone, but by the children of her own 
mother, that is, by such as would be within the pale of 
the Church. True Christians must always suffer all 
kinds of outrage by false brethren and merely outward 
members, who are ever more powerful than they are. 
But it makes them beautiful and glorious in the eyes of 
God, who washes and cleanses them so that they resem- 
ble their Lord and King who, although the most de- 
spised of all, and outwardly not possessed of any beauty, 
yet was the most beautiful among the children of men. 

In fierce temptation's darkest hour, 
Save me from sin and Satan's power; 
Tear every idol from Thy throne, 
And reign, my Savior, reign alone. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, 
and with weeping, and with mourning. Joel 2: 12. If ye do 
return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away 
the strange gods from among you. 1 Sam. 7: 3. Turn 
Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord my 
God. Jer. 31: 18. 

There are many awakened souls, but few who 
are converted with all their heart. You have once 
heard the awakening voice and have been aroused from 
sleep; vou have prayed and wept; you have been 
moved and comforted, and you have been very pious for 
some time; but your zeal and attachment to the 
Lord have abated. " In order to reassure yourself, you 
still continue in outward things, such as prayer, the read- 
ing of God's Word, the singing of sacred songs and 
church going; but your heart clings to the world, to 
money, to honor among men. It is still given to anger or 



69 

envy or other sinful inclinations and passions. The child- 
like intercourse with God has become strange and diffi- 
cult. You have retained the old idols or you have taken 
them out again, given them a different coloring, or hung 
a different cloak about them. You are not converted. 
Make haste and be saved ! Pray, "Turn Thou to me, 
Lord, and I shall be turned." That you are in truth 
"turned" you will be able to determine from the fact that 
the living God or Christ dwells in your heart; that His 
mind is imprinted in your heart ; that the idols of selfish- 
ness, sinful ambition, vainglory and covetousness, are 
overthrown ; and that faith, love, humility, kindness, 
faithfulness, patience, as the true fruits of repentance, 
have succeeded them. 

Though I have grieved Thy Spirit, Lord, 
His help and comfort still afford; 
And let me now come near Thy throne, 
To plead the merits of Thy Son. 



THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil 
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But 
exhort one another daily while it is called To-day; lest any of 
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb. 3: 
12. 13. 

The Apostle found it necessary to give this warning 
to the first Christians who had been awakened and led 
by him or by other apostles of the Lord. How much 
more necessary, then, is it not for us ! Alas ! how easy 
it is to backslide, to become lukewarm and at last un- 
susceptible to all the emotions of grace, which little by 
little leads to hardening of heart. Nothing is more 
treacherous than sin. It easily deceives him who may 
have renounced it, but not completely ; who does not con- 
stantly fear it and does not possess his heart in humility 
and cling to the Lord in a childlike manner. Evil is easily 
hidden in the heart and makes it unbelieving, so that 
it backslides from the living God and remains hanging 
to the dead letter in forms and in habitual outward exer- 



70 

cises. But the living God, Christ and His Spirit, His 
peace and His presence, have departed from the heart. 
What shall become of such a Christ-less and ungodly 
heart? Another enters in who brings with him seven 
others who are more wicked than himself. Why does 
Paul use the words, "from the living God"? Be- 
cause God is a dead God to us if He does not live 
within us. God lives ; but He is not living to you unless 
you feel His life, His nature, His Spirit, and His power 
within you. You possess then only the idols of the 
spiritless letter and of the empty word. This is a result 
of the deceitfulness of sin. If God and Christ dwell 
not in you, sin will most willingly let you retain a dead 
God upon the tongue and a heart without spirit ; then sin 
is allowed free scope in your heart. But the reverse 
should be the case : sin must be mortified in you that 
Christ may live in you. If not, you have departed from 
the living God, and your religious practices become emp- 
ty idols that harden your heart. 

Help me to watch and pray, 

And on Thyself rely, 

Steadfast to walk in Christ's dear way 

And God to glorify. 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

The serpent beguiled me. Gen. 3: 13. Deceive not your- 
selves. Jer. 37: 9. Let no man deceive himself. 1 Cor. 3: 
18. Lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 
Col. 2: 4. 

Are you better, wiser, and more secure than was Eve 
in Paradise? Yet she was beguiled. If the Serpent 
prevailed over man to beguile him in his innocent para- 
disical state, why should he not prevail over you 
who are born and trained in sin? Therefore, pay close 
attention to the confession of your mother Eve concern- 
ing herself. How many wjcked thoughts and fancies 
are awakened in your heart that may deceive you ! How 
many sophistries in your corrupt mind ! How many ap- 
parently good suggestions are^made by friends or ene- 



7i 

mies ! For this reason the prophets, and the apostles, as 
well as the experience of all pious men, give you this 
warning: Be on your guard and remain in Him who 
is made unto you the wisdom of God. He who clings 
in a childlike manner to Him ; who relies not on him- 
self, but who< at every beginning, every action, looks to 
Him and undertakes nothing- without Him, shall not be 
deceived, not even by the wily Serpent. For Jesus can, 
and He will, crush his head, set at naught his cunning 
and power, and deliver us from all his snares. But 
he who does not firmly hold fast to Him who is the 
Head, will soon relax, and his first zeal will grow cold. 
The world, Satan, and lukewarm friends, will gladly 
show him that his first zeal was overdone and his first 
love for Christ eccentric. This he readily believes, 
because he has already taken counsel with his own 
flesh and blood and can no long-er distinguish be- 
tween their voice and that of the Holy Spirit. Let no 
man deceive you ! Remember Eve ! Remember Lot's 
wife ! The first one was deceived by a small desire, the 
latter by an inquisitive glance. From small actions of 
unfaithfulness spring great and terrible sins. Let no 
man deceive you. 

Father, fix my soul on Thee; 
Every evil let me flee: 
Nothing want beneath, above, 
Happy in Thy precious love. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

These are wells without water, clouds that are car- 
ried with a tempest; for when they speak great swell- 
ing words of vanity, they allure those that were clean 

escaped from them who live in error. For if after they have 
escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge 
of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again en- 
tangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with 
them than the beginning. 2 Pet. 2: 17-20. 

Even the most copious wells may become empty and 
dry; even the most pious Christians become ungodly. 
He who had escaped may again be taken captive, and 



72 

"entangled" in the old ways. Peter proves this by ex- 
amples from his own time. Oh, that we may not 
be such examples and make like experiences ! At least, 
do not you present such an example, dear reader. 
Do not become secure, and do not glory in your- 
self. Rely not upon yourself. Rely only on Him 
who upholds all things by the word of His power. He 
will keep you if you abide in Him. There are, alas ! too 
many who have the pretension and the appearance of 
"wells," yet they do not give a drop of the water of life ; 
words enough, but no reality, no unction, no spirit. Be- 
ware of such wells ! Why will you tarry by them ? You 
must die of thirst if you do not seek the well of living 
water in Him who has said, "He that believeth on me, 
of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7: 
38). Where these rivers of life do not flow, you must 
not seek to quench your thirst, providing you know the 
spring from experience. If you do, you are a well with- 
out water yourself, and will fall back to "the pollutions 
of the world," be "tangled" in its meshes and become 
worse than you were before. But if vou earnestly desire 
to be saved, it is within your power. The well is near, 
and open to all who thirst and desire to come and drink. 
If Jesus be in you, you have within you that river 
of life which never runs dry, which never lacks water. 
Abide, therefore, in Him, and let Him abide in -you. 
Then you shall not be a well without water; your well 
will always . give abundant water where you and yours 
may daily quench their thirst. 

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, — 
Grace to cover all my sin; 
Let the healing streams abound, 
Make and keep me pure within; 
Thou of life the Fountain art, 
Freely let me take of Thee; 
Spring Thou up within my heart, 
Rise to all eternity. 



73 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Awake O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my 
garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved 
come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits: I am come 
into my garden, my sister, my sponse. Cant. 4: 16; 5: 1. 

Christ's true, living" church, as well as every 
true Christian, is God's pleasure-garden, which Christ 
has planted and made fertile. He waters it with 
the living water of the Spirit. It is enclosed, com- 
passed round about with divine protection. With refer- 
ence to its internal condition, it is hidden and unknown 
to the men of this world. Oftentimes the soul 
cries out, "Come, Holy Spirit !" At times the Spirit will 
punish and chastise like the cold northwind, and anon 
will warm, revive and comfort like the mild south wind 
and His precious shrubs, repentance, faith and love, 
with all their fruits, grow exuberantly. Yea, the soul 
sighs for the presence of the gardener when it misses 
Him, and then He comes and visits His garden, its heart, 
and blesses and attends it properly. Now, how is it with 
your garden? What does your gardener find when He 
comes ? Do you love Him ? Do you desire His visita- 
tion? Does the wind blow upon your "garden"? Do 
your herbs drip? Do you meet your well beloved, the 
only gardener of His kind, with holy longings and with 
hearty love, a heartfelt desire to please Him? Do all 
flowers and all desires in your soul open and turn toward 
Him? If He sees this in you, oh, how often He will 
visit His garden ! How carefully He will attend to it ! 
In what glorious condition He will keep it ! 

Blest are the pure in heart, 
For they shall see our God; 
The secret of the Lord is theirs, 
Their soul is Christ's abode. 



74 

THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and 
teachest him out of thy law. Ps. 94: 12. But when we are 
judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be 
condemned with the world. 1 Cor. 11: 32. 

Is there any child that does not need chastisement? 
What a blessing it is when the Lord does not permit us 
to pursue our own paths, but places Himself in our 
way; disciplines us; fences in the wrong path with the 
thorny hedge of trials, humiliations, afflictions or perse- 
cutions, so that we are unable to withdraw from Him, 
and become blinded and hardened, but must seek Him 
and remain with Him ! What a blessing it is that He 
deprives us of all consolation from without, and knocks 
every staff of support out of our hands, that we may 
seek our consolation and help in Him alone! All God's 
saints have thanked him more for chastisements, afflic- 
tions and trials, than for joys and blessings. Some day 
we also shall thank Him for the rod, even though- we 
cannot do so now, because we do not yet understand. 
Without chastisement and temptation none can be ac- 
ceptable to God, none learn fully to understand God's 
Word. Chastisement and temptation are also a key to 
the Scriptures and open many of God's mysteries to us 
which we would not otherwise know. 

Dear Refuge of my weary soul, 

On Thee, when sorrows rise, 

On Thee, when waves of trouble roil, 

My fainting hope relies. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my 
salvation. Ps. 62: 1. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently 

for him. Ps. 37: 7. The Lord was not in the earthquake 

....not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 

Kings 19: 11. 12. 

The image of the sun is not reflected in the water 
except when it is quiet and smooth. So with God 



75 

in the soul. There are pious men who in their 
prayers have so much concerning which to speak to God, 
that God cannot speak to them because they do not give 
Him time to do so. They do not wait for an answer. 
They have so much to say to God that He cannot say 
anything to them. One word that God speaks to you is 
better than a thousand that you speak to Him. To sit at 
His feet like Mary, and to bring your uneasy, turbulent 
heart at rest before His face that it may receive His 
deep and sublime impression ; to seek His face and 
rejoice in His presence, is a thousand times better than 
to give yourself much to do like Martha. You cannot 
discover the "still, small voice" in which Elijah found 
the Lord, in your heart ; you can neither perceive 
the Lord in you, nor can you rejoice in His presence, if 
it storm in you or the wild fire of passion flash in you. 
Conceive the thought that you and your Savior are alone 
in the chamber of your heart. Shut out the world, not 
only from your room, but from your heart. Bring all 
disorderly emotions to rest in your heart ; then the Spirit 
of God shall come in a still small voice, and the Lord 
shall be seen in His holy temple. 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
Thy wings shall my petition bear 
To Him whose truth and faithfulness 
Engage the waiting soul to bless; 
And since He bids me seek His face, 
Believe His word, and trust His grace, 
I'll cast on Him my every care, 
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 



SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EPIPHANY. 

And Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but they shall 
not come nigh, neither shall the people go up with him. 
Ex. 24: 2. The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth 
keep silence before him. Hab. 2: 20. Be silent, O all flesh, 
before the Lord. Zech. 2: 13. 

He who would really "come near the Lord," must 
not come with a distracted heart. Like Moses, the 
heart must alone ascend the mountain of the Lord for 



76 

prayer. Let Aaron, the elders and the people, that 
is, all that might disturb our confidential intercourse 
with the Savior, remain far below, at the foot 
of the mountain. The Lord wants the soul alone 
and separate from all else that He may write His living" 
law in the heart, not on tables of stone, but on tables of 
flesh. If Moses had to be alone and secluded to receive 
the stony, mortifying law, how much more, then, must 
the soul be separated from all else when it draws near 
to God and its Savior to receive the life-giving 
Spirit, to let the law which quickeneth be written in the 
heart and mind. If God, Christ, shall write this law in 
your soul, you must be quiet, and your soul uncontami- 
nated by anything else. Every unquiet emotion in your 
heart hinders God in His sacred writing; disturbs the 
gentle speaker so that He cannot communicate anything 
to your soul. Let all base thoughts and all worthless 
wishes ; all worldly desires ; let the whole world, let 
everything remain far away, down there in the valley 
of forgetfulness, and come to the Lord with a disciple- 
heart that only listens, receives, and lets its inner empti- 
ness be filled. 

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, 
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, 
Familiar, condescending, patient, free, 
Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me. 



THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 

But let a man examine himself. 1 Cor. 11: 28. Let every 
man prove his own work. Gal. 6: 4. I know also, my God, 
that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. 
1 Chron. 29: 17. 

To neglect daily self-examination results in much 
injury and misfortune to the pious. If we do not 
constantly watch ourselves with a searching* eye, 
we do not know ourselves nor our depravity. The 
heart feels no want, and without want no need 
of prayer, no incentive to humility. It is not bowed 
down and does not pray, at least not earnestly and im- 
portunately. Many evil inclinations steal into the heart 



77 

and take a seat in the heart. We speak words without 
power; we glory in grace without using it, without 
being chastised by it and without denying worldly lusts 
and living "soberly, righteously and godly" (Tit. 2: 12). 
Present yourself often before the all-seeing eye just as 
you are, and say from the depths of your soul, "Lord, 
all my desire is before Thee ; and my groaning is not hid 
from Thee." (Ps. 38: 9). Examine yourself; otherwise 
the L3rd will try you and chastise you with a heavy rod. 
Let the eyes that penetrate all things, as flames of fire, 
often look into the hidden recesses of your heart. 
Do not be afraid ; whatsoever you reveal unto Him will 
not harm you; but whatsoever you hide from Him, and 
from yourself, will become an insidious poison and will 
at last be fuel to the fire that shall burn you ; for impen- 
itence always results in severe judgment. LTpright souls 
are healed, comiforted, cleansed, strengthened land 
blessed by the Lord. Be upright lest you would be 
judged. 

My soul lies humbled in the dust, 
And owns Thy dreadful sentence just; 
Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye, 
And save the soul condemned to die. 



THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 

Who -shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall 
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or naked- 
ness, or peril, or sword? Rom. 8: 35. 

Who among us can in truth repeat these words of 
the Apostle? Who among us is so full of the love of 
Christ that he endures, I will not say fire and sword, 
anguish and tribulation; but who endures patiently an 
ordeal calling for self-denial, a small injustice, a 
sharp word, or a loss? Who is so strong in love 
that he can bear such things for Christ's sake and re- 
main in love of the Savior, in love to friends and to 
enemies, so that nothing in his heart can separate him 
from the love of Christ? Do not these beautiful words 
become a lie in our mouth when we have no power in 



78 

our heart ; when we do not demonstrate their truth in our 
conduct? There are many who, perhaps, could better 
endure great sufferings and trials because of their love 
for Christ than bear the small trials that daily vex them. 
It seems to be more difficult to remain in the love of 
Christ during daily trials than during great persecutions 
and severe sufferings. We must beseech the Savior for 
strength to endure both, and seek power and endurance 
from Him. The love which God, through His Holy 
Spirit, has poured out into our hearts, can overcome 
everything. This love does not permit anything to 
separate it from its fountain any more than heat can be 
separated from fire, or light and warmth from the sun. 
Fancied love, which consists in words only, is unable 
to conquer anything ; it can not be separated from Christ 
because it is not in Him : it is only an imagination and a 
self-delusion. It can not die, because it does not live; 
and for that reason it can not endure and bear. 

Give me a calm and thankful heart, 
From every murmur free; 
The blessings of Thy grace impart, 
And let me live to Thee. 



SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? 2 
Kings 10: 15. How canst thou say, 1 love thee, when thine 
heart is not with me? Judg. 16: 15. 

These two questions men have asked men. How much 
more, then, can and will the Lord ask thus ? If the disre- 
putable Delilah demands the heart of Samson that she 
may entice him and kill him; if John demands of Jon- 
adab that his heart be right before giving him his hand 
and permitting him to enter his chariot, should not the 
Lord, your Savior, desire your heart, and demand that 
it be right, that it always be with him, in order that He 
may bestow upon you life and the eternal communion 
of His heart? Without your heart, He can not be to 
you Jesus, a Savior. How can He bless your heart 
when you keep it from Him, when it is not with Him? 



79 

If your heart does not cling to Him like a burr to a 
garment, like a child to its mother's breast, it is im- 
possible for you to receive life and power, peace and 
salvation from His heart. Heart to heart, heart in 
heart ; thus would the Savior have it. We are assured 
that His heart is always turned unto us. Where is 
ours? He cries, "O soul, is thine heart right, as my 
heart is with thy heart? How canst thou say, 'I love 
Thee/ when thine heart is not with me but seeketh dis- 
traction in other and irrelevant things?" "O Lord, try 
my reins and my heart" (Ps. 26: 2). "Incline my heart 
unto Thy testimonies" (Ps. 119: 36). 

Let every thought, and work, and word, 
To Thee be ever given: 
Till life shall be Thy service, Lord, 
And death the gate to heaven. 



MONDAY AFTER SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Hezekiah clave to the Lord. 2 Kings 18: 6. My soul 
followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Ps. 
63: 8. He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1 Cor. 
6: 17. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have 
put my trust in the Lord, God. Ps. 73: 28. 

When a person cleaves to another person, he con- 
forms himself to him ; observes only him and all his 
wishes ; is completely led by him ; wakes and sleeps ; 
works and rests ; eats and drinks willingly with him ; 
cannot live without him ; if he can not be with him 
in the body, yet his heart and his mind are with him. 
If you thus cleave to the Lord as man cleaves to 
man it is not ill with you. But your cleaving to the 
Lord must gt> still deeper. Not only your mouth and 
your eye but also your heart, your soul, must cling to 
the Lord ; your spirit must be one with Jesus. You must 
understand and follow the suggestions of His eyes just 
as your whole body understands and follows the prompt- 
ings of your will. Your hands and your foot conform to 
your will. Your will lives, manifests itself and moves 
in your members. Thus also must you be in Jesus and 
Jesus in you ; and thus also must you be led and moved 



8o 

by Him. He who knows what He possesses in Christ 
and what he would be without Him, cleaves to Him with 
all his soul, with body and spirit ; he is a true and living 
member on the body of Christ because he is animated 
and directed by Christ just as the members of his body 
are animated and directed by his soul. 

Thou art my head, my Lord divine, 
I am Thy member, wholly Thine; 
And in Thy Spirit's strength would still 
Serve Thee according to Thy will. 



TUESDAY AFTER SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will 
not cause mine anger to fall upon you. Jer. 3: 12. Return 
unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Is. 44: 22. The Lord 
is not willing that any should perish, but that all should 
come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3: 9. 

Where is the pious man who has not often 
turned away from the Lord and lost sight o>f His 
countenance ? Yet, blessed are you even though you often 
turn away from Him if only you return at once to 
Him. Blessed are you even though you had forgotten 
Him a hundred times during the day, if only you seek 
His face a hundred times again. But if you remain away 
and continue in your turning away from the Lord, and 
in forgetting Him, the result will be a fall, a complete 
falling away from the Lord, a separation between you and 
Him. The heart loses courage to return unto Him even 
if it still were willing. It thinks, "He will no longer re- 
ceive me ; He will cause His anger to fall upon me ; He 
has forsaken me." But these thoughts are false; for it 
is written otherwise in His Word than in your back- 
slidden heart. He calls you. He wants backslidden 
Israel to return to Him. He is not willing that any 
soul, not even the apostate, should perish, but desires that 
it should be saved. Oh, that all might return, who more 
or less have turned away from the Lord, who formerly 
was so near and so good to them! Oh, that all might 
return who have lost sight of Him from their heart! 



8i 

Oh, that they all might return unto Him ! How gladly 
would He again turn His kind face to them and let 
Himself be found of them ! 

I cannot live without Thy light, 
Cast out and banished from Thy sight; 
Thy holy joys, my God, restore, 
And guard me that I fall no more. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER SEPTU AGESI MA SUNDAY. 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, 
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may de- 
vour; whom resist, stedfast in the faith. 1 Pet. 5: 8. 9. The 
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. 
Rom. 16: 20. 

You have a mighty enemy whom you do not see; 
the world does not believe in His existence; it regards 
belief in his activity as fanaticism and nonsense. But 
all the mightier, and all the more dangerous is his 
activity. The apostles Peter and Paul knew him and 
believed in his existence, and also warned the faithful 
against his arts, not imaginary, but real and dangerous. 
What more terrible than a roaring Lion? How careful 
you would be if a lion were near you and you knew you 
were threatened by him ! But are not the attempts of 
Satan much more terrible and dangerous ? To deny his 
existence or his "walking about," his desire to "devour" 
will not protect you against him. What, then, 
protects you? Faith, earnest resistance in faith, and 
constant prayer. He who does not believe in the devil's 
existence, who does not resist him, is already caught in 
his snares. He who believes in his existence, but does 
not watch, nor pray, will fall into 'his jaws and 
not escape therefrom without deep wounds, if he is 
not altogether devoured by him. Satan has assailed 
and tempted the head, Christ; should he then fear His 
members, His disciples, or spare them? We are too 
frail and impotent as against him. We cannot overcome 
him; but the Lord has overcome him, and Christ will 



82 

and can overcome him in us. He is stronger than the 
"strong man." He who remains in Christ has over- 
come the "strong man/' the "wicked one" ( I John 2 : 
13). But "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 
John 5: 19). "It is taken captive by him to do his 
will" (2 Tim. 2: 26). God alone can "deliver us from 
his power" (Col. 1: 13). 

From strength to strength go on, 
Wrestle, and fight, and pray: 
Tread all the powers of darkness down 
And win the well-fought day. 



THURSDAY AFTER SEPTUAGESIM A SUNDAY. 

If a man would give all the substance of his house for 
love, it would utterly be contemned. Cant. 8: 7 . 

Love for love. If you had given all that you have, 
and all that you are ; if you had sacrificed yourself fully 
and completely for the sake of love, you would yet not 
have paid its price : you would have given nothing for it. 
Still you have not sacrificed this "nothing;" perhaps you 
will not sacrifice this "nothing" in earnest. So insignifi- 
cant do you regard love, that love which is costlier and 
more precious than all the costly and precious things 
contained in heaven and on earth. It is God Himself, 
the highest good. Love will bestow upon you itself, 
but you are also to sacrifice your heart and to make 
yourself susceptible to love by emptying your heart of ev- 
erything which is not love, of everything which is not 
of God. Let all other things depart, that you may con- 
tain only this. Love wants to possess your heart alone, 
and it will give itself to you whole and undivided. You 
owe love for love ; you owe it from eternity ; for Love 
has loved you from eternity, and, besides, Love has in 
time sacrificed itself for you. You can, throughout all 
eternity, not become richer, more glorious, more bliss- 
ful, than if you eternally love this eternal Love with an 
undivided heart, and when you completely surrender 
yourself to it. 



»3 



O Lord, how cheering is Thy ray! 
All pain before Thy presence flies; 
Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away, 
Where'er Thy healing beams arise: 
O Jesus, nothing may I see, 
Nothing desire or seek but Thee. 



FRIDAY AFTER SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of 
the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. Luke 
17: 22. Oh, that I had wings like a dove! Ps. 55: 6. Woe 
is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of 
Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 
Ps. 120: 5. 6. 

"The days of the Son of man," the days when Jesus 
walked about on the earth, were undoubtedly blissful 
days to those who knew Him and who associated 
with Him. Who , knows Him and does not at the 
same time wish that he could often be transported 
to those days, to see the loving "Son of man" walk about 
in the flesh, and speak to Him face to face? We may 
do it in the spirit by His grace. We can have Him as 
near, and associate with Him as confidentially, as if we 
saw Him and spoke to Him. But we can never have 
Him near enough. We desire to have Him still nearer. 
The soul, therefore, wishes "wings" that it might fly to 
Him. If the soul be faithful and enduring in its long- 
ing, it sometimes receives "wings" so that it can raise 
itself to Him. But then it becomes so much harder 
for the soul to descend and to be obliged to dwell so 
long among Mesech and the Kedarines (Gen. io: 2; 
25: 13), that is to say, among people who no more 
know Christ nor believe in Him nor have any more re- 
gard for Him than the savage Scythians or the rav- 
aging Arabs. It is hard to deal with unbelievers, who 
do not possess His peace, because they do not know 
Him ; who, therefore, persecute those who love Him 
and believe in Him ; it is hard for the soul to deal with 
people who ridicule that which they do no> understand. 
But be at peace, dear soul. He Himself has for your 
sake dwelt here and walked among men who hated Him 
"without a cause." 



8 4 



Let the world despise and leave me, 
They have left my Savior, too; 
Human hearts and looks deceive me; 
Thou art not, like them, untrue: 
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, 
God of wisdom, love, and might, 
Foes may hate, and friends may scorn you; 
Show Thy face and all is bright. 



SATURDAY AFTER SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. 
Is. 7:9. He that believeth shall not make haste. Is. 28: 16. 
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 
1 Cor. 16: 13. And this is the victory that overcometh the 
world, even our faith. 1 John 5: 4. 

He who does not watch and pray that his faith may 
be kept and daily increased and "established," will not 
long stand fast nor remain steadfast in the faith. His 
faith will become unbelief, imagination, or idle talk. He 
will not be established in Christ, nor will he be able 
to endure His stigma; he will make haste to flee from 
Christ to the world, at any rate in his heart. He who 
has a living faith, does "not make haste" to come to any 
one else. He stands fast, because Christ who dwells in 
him is stronger than he who dwells in the world, yea 
stronger than the whole world. Our endurance and our 
steadfastness, as well as our victory over the world, the 
flesh and the devil, are dependent upon the life of faith. 
If the faith live in us, Christ lives in us. If Christ live 
in us, we can hold our own against all enemies. We 
are then stronger than the world and we conquer, yea, 
more than conquer. Christ in us is the life of faith and 
the victory over all things. 

We thank Thee then, O God of heaven, 
That Thou to us this faith has given; 
Preserve to us Thy Spirit's grace 
Till we shall see Thee face to face. 



*5 

SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search 
for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you. 
Jer. 29: 13. 14. For all seek their own, not the things which 
are Jesus Christ's. Phil. 2: 21. 

Many who "seek" do not find, because they do not 
seek what they profess to seek, or because they seek in 
a half-hearted way, and with many by-considerations ; 
in reality they seek their own and not Jesus Christ. 
Since Paul, at the blessed time of the first apostolic 
Christianity, asserted this concerning all of his co- 
workers, who* should not, in our selfish times, fear lest 
he deceive himself? Who should not, to free himself 
from this fear, examine himself earnestly to find 
whether he seeks Jesus alone, nothing" but Jesus, Him 
and no other thing beside Him? The promise, "I will 
be found by you," can never fail. The Lord keeps His 
word. The fault lies with those who seek. It lies in 
their not seeking Him zvith all their heart, or in their 
not seeking Him, but themselves or their own. Dear 
seeking soul, examine yourself. Examine your heart 
before the eyes of Him whom you seek. See if it clings 
completely to Him ; if you are ready to sacrifice every- 
thing for Him ; if you expect to find nothing else in 
Him but Himself; if He alone is sufficient for you; if 
you can forsake all else; and if you think as Asaph 
thought. (Ps. 73: 25. 26). 

Other refuge have I none; 
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; 
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, 
Still support and comfort me, 
All my trust on Thee is stayed; 
All my help from Thee I bring; 
Cover my defenceless head 
With the shadow of Thy wing. 



MONDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but 
the Lord trieth the hearts. Prov. 17: 3. And he shall sit 
as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the 
sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver. Mai. 3: 3. 



86 

Many who seek the Lord and believe that they have 
found Him, think that now all is well and that no tribu- 
lation can come near them any more. But since such 
persons have not sought the Lord sincerely and seek 
only easy days with Him, tribulation and fear must come 
upon them. Just in order to melt away and burn out 
the slack of by-considerations and egotism, just to purify, 
"purge" and establish the heart, it must into the heat of 
tribulation, as the silver and the gold must into the fire. 
When misery and misfortune, tribulation and fear befall 
one who seeks in a half-hearted way, he thinks, or hears 
it asked by the world, "What is now your reward for 
having sought the Lord?" Oh, very much! for now 
the Lord has sought and found me ; now He tries and 
purifies my heart ; now I seek Him with my whole heart 
that I may find Him. 

When on my aching, burdened heart 
My sins lie heavily, 
Thy pardon speak, new peace impart; 
Good Lord, remember me. 

When trials sore obstruct my way, 
And ills I cannot flee, 
Oh, let my strength be as my day; 
Good Lord, remember me. 



TUESDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have 
I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the 
Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For 
this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time 
when thou mayest be found. Ps. 32: 5. 6. He that covereth 
his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and for- 
saketh them shall have mercy. Prov. 28: 13. 

Pay particular attention to the fact that it is the 

business of the saints to "confess" their sins, and to be- 
seech God, before whom not even the heavens are clean, 

for forgiveness. What kind of a saint are you if you 
do not acknowledge and confess your sins? The Lord 

forgives those only who sincerely confess. The sins 
of the proud and secure saints are holden them by Him 

unto judgment. However, do not say, "I must and I 



8 7 

will commit sin, for I must have sin to confess ; other- 
wise my Savior would not have anything to for- 
give and to redeem ; He is a Savior and a Re- 
deemer." You are a sinner, and you commit sin with- 
out such Satanic purpose. For even with the most sin- 
cere effort to attain holiness, w T e make many mistakes ; 
we fall only too often. Then only will you rightly 
acknowledge and confess your sin when you strive to be 
without sin or to put off all sin. The greatest saints are 
in their own eyes the greatest sinners, for the more holy 
they seek to become, the more sinful they feel themselves 
to be. He who does not earnestly pursue holiness, does 
not find nor acknowledge any sin. Nor do the saints 
confess that they are sinners in general, but they con- 
fess their particular sins. There are many who call 
themselves miserable sinners without acknowledging, be- 
fore the face of the Lord, a single one of their sins. If 
one unveil to them one of their sins, they put on airs 
and begin to justify themselves, all because they desire 
only to seem holy but not in reality to be holy. 

May earthly feelings die, 
And fruits of faith increase; 
And Adam's nature prostrate lie 
Before the Prince of peace. 

Endue us, Lord, with strength, 

To triumph over sin: 

That we may with Thy saints at length 

Eternal glory win. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me accord- 
ing to thy word. Ps. 119: 25. For I have satiated the weary 
soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. Jer. 31: 
25; Is. 57: 15. 

He who is not weary has no taste for rest, nor does 
he need refreshment. But when the soul is deeply 
bowed down and turns like a worm in the dust ; 
when it deeply feels its misery, poverty, faintness, 
shortcomings, and sinfulness, and cries to the Lord for 



mercy He comes and revives the weary soul with 
His peace, that "surpasseth all understanding;" then 
He fills the hungry soul, the soul anxious for salva- 
tion, with heavenly good things, and pours out the 
treasures of grace in its bosom so that it believes itself 
at once transferred from a wilderness to a paradise, from 
hell to heaven, from the devil to the angels. He who 
is in the first state should also believe in the second. 
For as the first is accomplished, so must also* the second 
surely come. Everything has its time. After the drought, 
the rain comes at length. The day follows the night. 

To Thee I tell each rising grief, 
For Thou alone canst heal; 
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief 
For every pain I feel. 



THURSDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Be not slothful in business. Rom. 12: 11. For consider 
him that endured such contradiction of sinners against him- 
self, lest ye be wearied ajid faint in your minds. Heb. 12: 3. 
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the 
feeble knees. Heb. 12: 12. 

Slothfulness and weariness are sure to smuggle 
themselves in, when you become secure in grace and 
when, after having received the forgiveness of sins, 
you do not make war against evil habits, but make 
peace with one or another bosom-sin and in a subtle 
manner cling to it; when you, while enjoying the good- 
ness of the Lord, believe that it is not necessary to be 
on your guard against your old enemies ; that the wicked 
one can now no more cause you any injury, and that 
you can no more be lost, because you are in the bosom 
of God. Only too soon comes the old habit and incli- 
nation, the sin that still clings to us, into view. Grace 
diminishes because we do not -hold it fast, and because 
we are not zealous but lukewarm in the service of the 
Lord. Then we feel faint and permit "the hands" to 
"hang down" and we spare "the feeble knees." Not so, 
beloved ! Follow the Apostle's admonition. Take cour- 
age and lift up the hands which hang down, and the 



8 9 

feeble knees, that ye may raise your hands to heaven 
and make your footsteps sure. The God of all grace, 
who hath called us unto His eternal glory, shall pre- 
pare, establish, strengthen, settle you. 

Ye servants of the Lord, 
Each in His office wait, 
Observant of His heavenly Word, 
And watchful at His gate. 



FRIDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

This know also that in the last days perilous times shall 

come. Fo'r men shall be lovers of their own selves 

lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. 3: 1. 2. 

4. We ought not to please ourselves — . For even 

Christ pleased not himself. Rom. 15: 1. 3. 

Shameless self-love flatters- even the pious; they 
look down upon others and esteem themselves more 
highly than their imperfect brethren, yea, they even 
despise them. There is no poison more injurious 
to be had at any chemist's shop than that which 
you, my beloved, carry in your heart in great quan- 
tities and which poisons all your deeds, and em- 
bitters your every enjoyment, if you be not on your 
guard: this poison is your miserable self-complacency, 
your blind self-love. Do not excuse yourself. You 
love yourself too much. Acknowledge and confess 
it openly, and if you do not desire to lose all 
grace, then seek an antidote against this deadening 
poison. Seek the riches of God's grace and love in 
Christ Jesus, your Lord. He alone can bruise the Ser- 
pent's head in you and heal you from its venomous bite. 
Watch and pray unceasingly, if you would have this 
brood of vipers exterminated from your heart, if you 
would escape death from its poison. 

Lord, forever at Thy side 
Let my place and portion be! 
Strip me of the robe of pride, 
Clothe me with humility. 



90 

SATURDAY AFTER SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh 
my help. Ps. 121: 1. And the mountain shall drop sweet 
wine. Amos 9: 13. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan. 
This is the hill which God desireth to dwell in. Ps. 68: 15. 

16. Cfr. Is. 2: 2; 25: 6; Mic. 4: 1. 

By this figure, "the hill of God/' the Fathers under- 
stood sacred prayer, the worship of God in the spirit, 
because the temple, the dwelling-place of Jehovah, stood 
on a hill. As prayer is a lifting up, an upward flight 
of the mind to God, during which all things pertaining 
to this world are left behind, down in the valley, and the 
heart is in heaven and, so to spak, dwells on high and in 
the sanctuary of God, this figure is very appro- 
priate. From these "hills" comes all help. They "drop 
sweet wine ;" yea, streams of divine blessing, ex- 
ceeding riches of spiritual good things, flow down 
from these mountains upon all who strive to raise them- 
selves thither by faith and confidence, with a perfectly 
undivided mind, there to seek the presence of the Sav- 
ior. From these hills one never returns empty-handed 
but always loaded down with the good things of heaven. 
When we have raised ourselves in the spirit to the hill 
of earnest prayer and drawn near unto the Lord, it is 
as though we had been in heaven. Wherefore David 
prayed, "O, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them 
lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to 
Thy tabernacles. . Then will I go unto the altar of God, 
unto God my exceeding joy" (Ps. 43: 3. 4). 

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! 

That calls me from a world of care, 

And bids me at my Father's throne 

Make all my wants and wishes known: 

In seasons of distress and grief, 

My soul has often found relief, 

And oft escaped the tempter's snare 

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 



9i 

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4: 19. In 
this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that 
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might 
live through him. 1 John 4: 9. 

There are depths to the bottom of which we cannot 
fathom. The lowest depth of all is this, that God has 
"loved us first," and not merely loved us, but loved us 
so that He could love us no more ; has given us 
so much that He could give us no more. He has 
given us His only begotten Son, His own perfect 
likeness, God from eternity and to eternity, and sent 
Him to distress and death for our sake. Who can 
fathom these depths? Here we stand as at an abyss, 
and worship. Best would it be for us that we throw 
ourselves into this abyss of love, for to that end it has 
opened itself for us. To search and brood is here with- 
out avail. God desires to be loved, that He may love 
us all the more and that we may become all the more 
susceptible to His infinite and bliss-giving love. 

Praised be the Lord, my God, 
My Bliss, my Life from heaven, 
The Father's love's Son, 
Who for mankind was given, 
Who hath atoned for me 
With His most precious blood, 
Who giveth to my faith 
The greatest heavenly good. 



MONDAY AFTER QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Deut. 32: 6. 
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved 
me. John 16: 27. Behold, what manner of love the Father 
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons 
of God. 1 John 3: 1. 

He who loves the Son is also loved by the Father; 
that is beyond doubt. We notice the same fact in 
man also. They who love the children, get the good- 
will of the parents. Their heart goes out to the per- 
son who shows love to their children. That the 



9 2 

same should, be true in regard to God, is something 
we neither could expect nor believe, because we are far 
from having deserved it and because we are not lovable. 
But here stands the Son Himself and declares it to us, 
"The Father Himself loveth you because ye love me." 
Oh, what a glorious word ! Now, then, we know how 
our case stands. If we feel love, inclination toward 
Christ, in our hearts, we have therein a seal and proof 
that we are loved by the Father, and that we are 
His sons. Dear souls, if ye possess love to Christ in 
you, ye have also the Father's love in you. But do not 
let your love for Him who died for' you consist in mere 
words and pretentions, emotions and ideas, but in deed 
and in truth. Jesus says, "If ye love me, keep my com- 
mandments" (John 14: 5). 

Through all the changing scenes of life, 
In trouble and in joy, 
The praises of my God shall still 
My heart and tongue employ. 

O make but trial of His love: 
Experience will decide 
How blest are they, and only they, 
Who in His truth confide. 



TUESDAY AFTER QUINQUAGES1MA SUNDAY. 

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure 
to give you the kingdom. Luke 12: 32. My kingdom is not 
of this world. John 18: 36. 

God gives you His kingdom, the kingdom of heav- 
en, here and hereafter. If this is not sufficient for 
you, then find some one else that will give you more. 
You must possess an insatiable desire for gain, if 
that which God gives you in His Son is not enough for 
you. Still, that which God promises has been to 
this day too little for the world at large; it ever seeks 
other things. The world pursues, yearns after and 
grasps with burning desire every shadow, but not 
that which God offers and lays into its lap. All 
the other gifts of God in the world are more 
dear to the worldly minded than the highest, best and 



93 

greatest gift, which is worth more than a thousand 
worlds — Christ and His kingdom, God's kingdom. 
Seeing that the world throws it aside, may thou grasp 
it, thou "little flock," despised by the world. The more 
the world disdains it, the more of it will He impart to 
thee. But remember that "the kingdom of God is with- 
in you" (Luke 17: 21). The world will have no inner 
treasure, for it sees it not, nor does it understand. He 
who desires to have the kingdom of God, must en- 
ter into his own heart and meditate upon himself. 
He must desire to stay at home with himself, and walk 
after the Spirit, not after the flesh. 

Grant my mind and my affections, 
Wisdom, counsel, purity; 
That I may be ever seeking 
Naught but that which pleases Thee, 
Let Thy knowledge spread and grow, 
Working error's overthrow. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.. 



Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and be- 
come as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom 

of heaven. For of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat. 18: 3; 19: 14. 

That the Lord did not say this to simple-minded men, 
concerning whom one might believe that they are of no 
account and that it were better for them to remain in 
their simple-mindedness, but to the first and most im- 
portant in His kingdom, yea, to the apostles themselves, 
is a fact we know and of which we may read before and 
after the Scripture passage just quoted. There are 
many other passages in which Christ exhorts His di- 
sciples to become lowly and to humble themselves. As 
He Himself was the most lowly, and the most child- 
like, we may learn from His example, even though He 
had not exhorted us in plain words. He who will not 
become a child, child-like, is no fit applicant for the 
kingdom of heaven. How should he be able to be a 
teacher and a guide to heaven? We see, then, that this 
kingdom distinguishes itself from all other kingdoms. 
It is the greatest ; it is vast ; and yet no giant, none 



94 

mighty in power, can seize it. Only children can get 
possession of it, and take it by violence. In this sense 
also it is true that "when I am weak, then am I strong," 
for I can lift the heavens and cary them away. On the 
contrary, if I am strong, then I am weak and cannot 
hold anything fast, so that I must let go- of all, both 
heaven and earth. 

Lord, make me humble as a child, 
Lord, make my spirit pure, 
That love's own message, sweet and mild, 
My heart from sin may cure. 



THURSDAY AFTER QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in 
malice be ye children but in understanding be men. 1 Cor. 
14: 20. Cfr. Eph. 4: 14. I would have you wise unto that 
which is good, and simple concerning evil. Rom. 16: 19. 

. St. Paul here explains to us the mind of Christ. He 
shows us that Christ does not desire to have children 
with a simplicity akin to stupidity, but He desires hearts 
that are of noble simplicity, honest souls that are with- 
out deceit, duplicity or hypocrisy. The Lord does not de- 
sire children of darkness, craftiness or wickedness, but 
children of light, truth and righteousness. The evil in 
the world should be as foreign to us as it is to* the 
smallest child. On the other hand, we should know and 
understand that which is good better than the oldest and 
most experienced worldlings and worldly wise, as David 
says, "Thy commandments have made me wiser than 
mine enemies. I have more understanding than all my 
teachers. I understand more than the ancients, because 
I keep Thy precepts" (Ps. 119: 98 — 100). When, there- 
fore, our Lord and St. Paul bid us become like children, 
they do not refer to childishness, nor the ignorance 
of a child's understanding, but the simplicity of the child 
and the purity of the child-like mind. It also becomes 
evident that true simplicity and child-likeness are the 
seat of true wisdom. The purer the mind, the clearer 
the understanding; the more corrupt the heart, the 



95 

more blind and muddled the head. Cleanse your heart 
from all the wickedness, and you kindle the light in 
your understanding. But if you permit wickedness in 
your heart, it will extinguish all light in your head. 

Thou strong Defence, Thou holy Light, 
Teach us to know our God aright, 
And call Him Father from the Heart: 
The Word of life and truth impart. 



FRIDAY AFTER QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 



Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon 
earth that I desire beside thee. Ps. 73: 25. My soul, wait 
thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Ps. 
62: 5. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our 
God. Truly, in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 
Jer. 3: 22. 23. 

What were heaven without God and Jesus? Who 
would care to be in heaven without Him? God, 
Christ, is our heaven. Heaven would not be heaven 
if we did not have God, Christ, in heaven. What 
is a hell when the soul does not possess Christ, when one 
is not certain of His love. But now Ave are blessed ev- 
erywhere and enjoy a heaven full of delight and hap- 
piness ; He being near us, we possess Him both here 
and beyond. Who should not desire in faith, hope and 
love to possess Him, and to be in Him? "He who has 
himself only,'' as someone has said, "has nothing. He 
who should have the whole world, and nothing but the 
world, would yet have nothing. The world consists 
.only of ciphers ; the numbers are those only in whom 
God dwells." 

Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown 
Or smile, Thy sceptre or Thy rod. 
What though my flesh and heart decay? 
Thee shall I love in endless day. 



SATURDAY AFTER QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 

I will not leave you comfortless: I wilr*come to you. John 
14: 18. I am come that they might have life, and that they 
might have it more abundantly. John 10: 10. And ye will 
not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5: 40. 



9 6 

The Lord loves His own as His children, and there- 
fore He will not leave them alone in this world. Even 
though His visible presence is denied them, that they 
may learn to believe in the Invisible as if they saw Him, 
yet is He near them in the Spirit. For what pur- 
pose does He come to His own? "That they might 
have life, and have it more abundantly ;" that they might 
abundantly and in rich measure have everything that 
they need for a pious conduct and conversation. Woe 
to them whom this complaint concerns, "Ye will not 
come to me that ye might receive that life which I will 
give unto you ; ye prefer death instead of life." Dear 
soul, here stands your living Savior before you in His 
Word, and He offers to come into your heart and grant 
you life eternal. In you as well as round about you 
there is only death and darkness. Which of the two do 
you wish, and which do you select now? 

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine 
My path of life attend; 
Thy presence through my journey shine, 
And crown my journey's end. 



THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth 
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and 
holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble 
spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the 
heart of the contrite ones. Is. 57: 15. 

The high and lofty One can not see above Himself, 
but only beneath Himself; there is nothing above Him, 
as He is the highest. Therefore He Sees and can only 
see lowly, the bowed down, the humble hearts, which 
the hammer of His Word and the power of His 
Spirit have stricken to the earth. Unto them, and unto 
them only, will He look in grace. That is to say, He 
lifts them up, revives them, heals their wounds, yea 
chooses even to dwell in them. The poor hut of a bowed 
down heart is not too small, not too low for the high and 
exalted One. He even finds such pleasure in it that His 
love cannot pass it by, but must enter and take up its 



97 

lasting abode there. He who is haughty, — and every 
sinner who is not contrite and humble, is haughty, — 
thinks himself more than God, and stands in his own 
mind superior to God. God does not and cannot look 
to such a one, because He sees only that which bows 
before Him. Therefore, O man, bow down, bow down 
always, even though you are already pardoned, if you 
desire that God shall look to you, dwell and remain in 
you. 

Life and peace to me impart, 
Seal salvation on my heart; 
Breathe Thyself into my breast, — 
Earnest of eternal rest. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to 
do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2: 13. No man can come to 

me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him 

— except it were given unto him by my Father. John 6: 44. 
65. 

That which man undertakes to do according to his 
own will and in his own strength, does not reach very 
far, lacks purity in the sight of God, and is not done 
in God. Are we, then, to infer from this that man is 
to fold his hands in his lap and neither to will nor to 
do because he can not accomplish anything without the 
aid and the power of the Father? Is he to wait and 
sit still until the Father comes to him? Yes, in a certain 
sense, for he must not undertake to do anything without 
throwing himself in spirit, body and soul, before his 
God and Savior and receiving power and strength from 
Him. For God is not far from any of us. We live, 
move and have our being in Him. He dwells in those 
who> humble themselves before Him. He works, as Je- 
sus says (John 5 : 17) always, and thus works all in him 
who humbly and confidently undertakes everything in 
Him. You ought, therefore, by no means desist in your 
work ; only desist from letting down the net in your own 
name. You must do it in His name only. Then He will 



9 8 

never fail to work in you both to- will and to do to draw 
you closer to everything that is good, and bestow upon 
Vou all that you need. 

Holy Ghost, with power divine, 
Cleanse this guilty heart of mine: 
In Thy mercy pity me, 
From sin's bondage set me free. 

Holy Ghost, with joy divine, 
Cheer this saddened heart of mine; 
Yield a sacred, settled peace, 
Let it grow and still increase. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

When the poor and needy seek water, and there Is none, 
aJid their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, 
I the God of Israel will not forsake them. Is. 41: 17. 

The Lord leads many souls on rough paths through 
life. They walk as through a sandy desert where no 
water of consolation or of refreshment can be found, 
where all fountains seem dried up, where one seeks 
comfort and finds none, only greater heart-sorrow. 
Even in our inner self, in the Lord's sanctuary, 
notwithstanding all prayer and weeping, no trace 
of grace reveals itself, just as if the Lord had 
thought to withdraw His grace from us as Job 
thought: "He hath cast me into the mire, and I am 
become like dust and ashes. I cry unto- Thee, and Thou 
dost not hear me: I stand up and Thou regardest me 
not" (Job 30: 19. 20). But souls that seem forsaken, 
as Job, may find comfort in the fact that the granting 
of their prayers neither can nor will fail. It is im- 
possible for God to forsake them, even though indications 
point that way. He is near them during this crying, 
sighing and longing, and in this darkness He is their 
hidden light which in due time shall shine forth clearly 
in their eye. 

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face 
And shall I seek in vain? 
And can the ear of sovereign grace 
Be deaf when I complain? 



99 



No, still the ear of sovereign grace 
Attends the mourner's prayer: 
O may I ever find access, 
To breathe my sorrows there! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 



O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his 
mercy endureth forever. For as the heaven is high above 
the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 
By grace ye are saved. Ps. 106: 1; 103: 11; Eph. 2: 5. 

''Grace !" O blessed word ! He who understands 
thee has heaven within himself. Yet, he who has only 
the word and not the essence, grace itself, has little or 
nothing. It were better that he had nothing — that he did 
not know the word. Grace is not given us that we should 
play with the word, but that we should live in grace and 
let the gracious, and merciful, and living God and Re- 
deemer, live in us. Tell me, do you understand what 
this means? Have you experienced the grace of the 
living God in your heart? Oh, then, keep and use 
it, that it may not be taken from you. For if it is not 
used, it disappears. But if you live in grace and use 
it, it will grow and increase. Be at the same time 
humble : forget not that it is given you for nothing. 
Let grace remain grace : do not make it a matter 
of merit to yourself. Nor must you make it a 
pillow of slothfulness upon which to slumber. You 
must strive to keep awake, to be attentive, indus- 
trious, and alive in Christ. Grace endureth forever ; do 
not shorten its duration for yourself. Grace is as high 
as the heaven above us, and so rich and full that the 
he^Vens can not contain it. Then it must be sufficiently 
rich and abundant that by it we may accomplish all 
things and have no need of becoming sleepy and sloth- 
ful. 

I rest upon Thy Word; 

Thy promise is for me: 

My succor and salvation, Lord, 

Shall surely come from Thee. 



IOO 

But let rae still abide, 
Nor from my hope remove, 
Till Thou my patient spirit guide 
Into Thy perfect love. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the 
sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though 
the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Ps. 46: 2. 3. 
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the 
sea obey him? Mat. S: 27. 

The depravity of this world is great everywhere. The 
world lieth in wickedness. The pious have at all times 
compared our life in this world with a dangerous voyage. 
There the winds must blow and the storms rage, other- 
wise the ship can not reach port. . But in all storms and 
dangers the true Christian does not fear any more than 
the holy Psalmist feared when he sang this psalm. Let 
the sea of this life run high and roar as much as it 
will : he who 'has the right Pilot with him in the ship, in 
his heart, sails securely and without danger, and reaches 
unharmed the haven of rest. Yea v he who has the Lord 
with him does not tremble even if the world seems to 
perish and the mountains threaten to fall apart; for 
He who* is with him is stronger than the mountains 
and ths sea. He is the Lord of the universe. He can set 
bounds to everything. 

Commit tbou all thy griefs 

And ways into His hands, 

To His sure truth and tender care, 

Who earth and heaven commands: 

Who points the clouds their course, 

Whom winds and seas obey, 

He shall direct thy wandering feet, 

He shall prepare thy way. 



IOI 
FRIDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee 
the desires of thine heart. Ps. 37: 4. Is there a God beside 
me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any. Is. 44: 8. 

Search the heavens and the whole earth", and you 
will not find a better Lord, none who gives, or can give 
you, the desire of your heart; none who can blot out 
your sins and soothe your conscience ; none who can give 
you a new heart, a heavenly mind, desire and power to 
keep His commandments ; none who can work in you a 
living hope of eternal life, of divine glory, and establish 
and seal it as He can ; none upon whom you may depend 
so safely and confidently in all your need as upon Him 
and from whom you may expect such powerful and 
ready help. He is, therefore, the Incomparable, the 
only one in heaven and upon the earth. But who knows 
Him as such ? Who believes in Him as such ? To whom 
is the arm of the Lord revealed? Only he who has ex- 
perienced it knows how blessed it is to be one with 
Him. Delight thyself in Him ; that is the only condition ; 
then He will be all to you, He will give you all that 
your heart may desire. Only give Him your heart and 
He will give you all. Only be completely His and He 
will be completely yours. When all the desires of your 
heart are turned toward Him, as the arms of a child 
in danger are stretched out toward its mother; when 
your longing and yearning encompass Him in such 
a manner, and you cling to Him, He will give you 
even more than your heart desires, more than it 
is able to desire. For before you have tasted and ex- 
perienced it, you can not conceive of all the goodness, 
all the glory, and all the blessedness, which He gives 
unto those who delight in Him. "Eye hath not seen, 
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of 
man the things which God hath prepared for them that 
love Him" (i Cor. 2:9). 

Hence all fears and sadness, 
For the Lord of gladness, 
Jesus, enters in; 
They who love the Father, 



102 

Though the storms may gather, 
Still have peace within, 
Yea, whate'er I here must bear, 
Thou art still my purest pleasure, 
Jesus, priceless treasure. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 

We beseech you brethren, that ye increase more and 
more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own 
business. 1 Thes. 4: 10. 11. 

These exhortations by the apostles are not super- 
fluous in our day, for there are many who are 
prattlers, who talk much about Christianity but do 
little. Hence these words of the apostle are sacred 
to every true Christian, inasmuch as he does not 
imagine that he has already apprehended it, but 
he follows after and strives to become ever more per- 
fect, more faithful, more zealous and industrious 
to increase in every respect, in his spiritual as well as 
in his temporal calling, and grow up unto Him in all 
things who is the Head. He understands how to com- 
bine quietude of heart with faithfulness in his calling and 
untiring industry. He who does not understand this, 
does not know the grace of Christ nor the power of the 
Gospel. He who is truly pious will not let himself be 
found by God or man otherwise than praying or work- 
ing, or still better, both praying and working. He 
knows too well that idle talk even concerning good 
things dissipates the heart and leaves the soul empty 
and spiritless instead of filling it with unction. When 
the mouth babbles a great deal, there is certainly no 
grace and peace in the heart. A heart filled with the 
peace of God preserves its treasure, covers it up and 
works rather than talks. A twaddler, an idle, inactive 
person, is certainly no Christian, even if he talks of noth- 
ing else but the Bible and of Christianity, and much less 
when he talks of hidden and future things of which- he 
is not informed, inasmuch as he only runs around with 
suppositions on a wild-goose chase in the fog. Paul 
says that only by being "quiet" and by working ought we 



103 

to demonstrate our Christianity. Peter says that not 
much knowing and talking, but a meek" and quiet 
spirit is precious in the sight of God, a man of heart 
and not one who is Christian only in tongue. Read 
tbx apostolic exhortations. Pray and examine your- 
self. Paul adjures and beseeches you to do it bv 
Jesus Christ. Let yourself be moved thereby and 
refute in deeds the charges often made against" piety. 
Show by your diligent and quiet conversation that the 
Spirit of Christ notwithstanding all its devotion and 
quietude, does not make us slothful and inactive. 

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb, 

In Thy gracious hands I am, 

Make me, Savior, what Thou art, 

Live Thyself within my heart. 

I shall then show forth Thy praise, 
Serve Thee all my happy days: 
Then the world shall always see 
Christ, the holy Child, in me. 



THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Who is like unto thee, Lord? who is like thee, glorious 
in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Ex. 15: 11. 
O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? 
Ps. 89: 8. The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to 
the remembrance of thee. Is. 26: 8. 

If the Lord were to the pious hearts in the old cove- 
nant the highest good with which nothing else could 
be compared ; if He did impart Himself to them in such 
an overflowing manner while the cloud vet hung above 
the sanctuary ; if they already at that time had such 
experiences with Him that they lost desire of all 
other things so that He and the remembrance of Him 
constituted the greatest joy of their heart: what, then, 
should not we feel and experience in the new covenant 
where all who. with open face, beholding as in a glass 
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image ? 
(2 Cor. 3: 18; 4: 6). What has He not done for us? 
What does He not do daily for souls that wait upon 



104 

accordance with His promises? He who knows this and 
lives in the enjoyment of his salvation, most as- 
suredly cries out a thousand times, "Lord, who is like 
unto thee?" In him no thought of anything else can 
arise. He can not harbor any wish in his soul to pos- 
sess anything without or besides Him. Who would have 
so much patience and longsuffering with our weak hearts 
that are ever inclined to follow wrong paths and turn 
aside from Him? There is none like Him. May His 
name, His remembrance, be and continue to be the one 
desire and joy of our heart! May nothing else be so 
dear to us as He. However great, beautiful, inviting 
and attractive, it shall nevertheless not supersede Him in 
our heart. His place therein shall not be occupied by 
anything else. He alone shall be the one whom our soul 
embraces, holds fast and will not lose. Everything else 
that can not exist beside Him ought and must give place 
to Him, ought and must be superseded by Him. May our 
whole being, at every moment, say as with a thousand 
tongues, "Who is like unto Thee, O Lord?" 

From day to day, O Lord do we 
Highly exalt and honor Thee! 
Thy name we worship and adore, 
World without end for evermore! 






MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. Is. 40: 11. He 
that scattered Israel will gather him, as a shepherd doth 
his flock. Jer. 31: 10. Behold I, even I, will both search my 
sheep, and seek them out, as a shepherd seeketh out his 
flock in the day that he is among his sheep. Bzek. 34: 11. 12. 

The three major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and 
Ezekiel, testify for us to Christ's faithfulness as a "shep- 
herd" which He Himself has described most beautifully 
and touchingly in John io and in Luke 15. He is no 
dreadful and terrifying ruler. He is our shepherd. He 
does not consider us as bondmen, but as His sheep. He 
does not want wool, gain and profit from us. He 
seeks only our welfare and salvation. He does not de- 






io5 

spise any of His sheep, not even the most miserable, not 
even those who are gone astray and lost. He seeks after 
them with untiring zeal, and if He has found one, it is 
to Him as though He had found a kingdom. He ac- 
cepts all as His sheep. That which the world despises 
and rejects, He gathers with care and love, watches and 
preserves with tender faithfulness. He does not leave 
His sheep to the hirelings ; He Himself cares for His 
sheep. How many points of advantage, then, do the 
sheep of -Christ have, who know Him as their good shep- 
herd, experience His faithfulness as a shepherd and 
are under His protection ? Oh, why do not all men make 
haste to come to Him? Why do so man}' despise this 
great happiness of being one of Christ's sheep? When 
shall the time come when there shall be one fold and one 
shepherd? It shall, it must come. "He that scattered 
Israel will also gather him." 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, 
Much we need Thy tenderest care; 
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, 
For our use Thy folds prepare; 
Blessed Jesus, 
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. 



io6 



Jffleottattous; on tije iPassion 
of Cijrtet 

TUESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 



And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds In 
thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I 
was wounded in the house of my friends. Awake, O sword, 
against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, 
saith the Lord of hosts. Zech. 13: 6. 7. 

Those who loved Thee — did they inflict these 
wounds? Those who ought to have loved Thee, the 
people which was called by Thy name, which before the 
whole world was known as knowing the true God, 
and was proud of that fact, and which expected His 
Son to come down from heaven as the Messiah, Savior 
and Redeemer, did that people wound Thee, Thy so- 
called friends and elect, the children of Israel? Who 
does now wound the Lord? Now, too, it is His people, 
that calls itself by His name, that wants to be known as 
believing in Christ, as honoring and loving Him. The 
Gentiles do not wound Him, they know Him not. But 
His own, who ought to love Him, attack Him with all the 
weapons of sin. He lets them strike that He may heal 
those who strike Him. The Father also cherishes the 
same love to the ungrateful, and He calls down the sword 
of death upon His Son, upon Him who is His 
equal in divine nature and eternal being. What 
a word in the mouth of God is this, "Awake, O 
sword, strike my shepherd instead of the sheep, 
strike Him who is nearest and most like unto me, 
that those who have gone astray from me, the deeply 
fallen, may be brought out of the depths, out of the 
abyss of depravity, and near unto me." Behold here 
the council of God, the judgment upon His beloved Son 
for your salvation! The Father called down all this 
suffering upon His Son, not because He did not love 



107 

Him, but because they both loved man — man, who did 
not love them, but who hated them. O love, take our 
hearts captive. Here is mine. 

Five bleeding wounds he bears, 
Received on Calvary; 
They pour effectual prayers, 
They strongly speak for me; 
Forgive Him, O forgive, they cry, 
Nor let that ransomed sinner die! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the 
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. — 
— — — He humbled himself, and became obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2: 7. 8. 

Christ's making Himself "of no reputation" and His 
humility is something that we can not comprehend, be- 
cause we are unable to conceive the highness and the glo- 
ry which He had with the Father from the beginning. 
We can not measure the height in which He was, and, 
therefore, we are unable to fathom the depth to which 
He descended. It is sufficient that we know that 
He is the Highest, yet became the Lowest, He is 
the Omnipotent, yet became the Most Impotent; He 
is the Holiest, yet took upon Himself the sin of the 
whole world. His love to us drove Him down into 
these depths. For He must needs step as low as 
we were low and fallen, in order that He might 
draw us out of the deepest depravity. This He has done, 
the faithful God, and for this He desires to have noth- 
ing but love and that we gratefully enjoy and possess 
that which He, by His humbling Himself, even unto the 
death of the cross, has earned for us. By this that He 
suffered and died, we are to live and be save'd. All 
was lost for man by the fall ; all was found again and 
restored by the humilation of God. All men were the 
captives and the bondmen of sin, death and hell ; all 
became free, redeemed, ransomed, by the Son of God, 
by His bonds, captivity and cross. All blood on earth 
was depraved, poisoned and cursed; all blood may be- 



io8 

cleansed, made pure and blest by the blood of the 
Atoner. 

Thou, ah Thou, hast taken on Thee 
Bitter stroke, a cruel rod; 
Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee, 
O Thou sinless Son of God. 

Only thus for me to win 
Rescue from the bands of sin; 
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, 
Blessed Jesus unto thee. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and 
men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for 
all. 1 Tim. 2: 5. 6. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and 
carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgres- 
sions, he was bruised for our iniquities. Is. 53: 4. 5. 

That our Savior, though true God, yet also* was 
true man ; that He felt as a man ; that He had as- 
sumed true human nature which was capable of suffer- 
ings; was demonstrated throughout His whole life, and 
especially in the last days of His passion. Therefore 
the Apostle Paul says in plain words that the man Jesus 
Christ who was in the form of God, and whom he else- 
where calls "God blessed for ever," made Himself of no 
reputation and humbled Himself. As God only He 
could not suffer. But His love compelled Him, neverthe- 
less, to redeem men by suffering, and to show them His 
love by dying, inasmuch as He Himself suffered that 
penalty of death which they had deserved. In order to 
do this, He must needs assume human nature and clothe 
Himself in our misery and weakness. Who among us 
would suffer himself to become a reptile? And yet 
this wduld by no means be as degrading and as 
humiliating for us as it was for the Son of God to be : 
come man ; to be in the likeness of condemned sinners 
and to die as a malefactor; to sweat blood in the agony 
of death ; to fight against death ; to feel Himself for- 
saken by God; to be cursed and rejected by His own 
creatures ; to be stricken, wounded, spat upon and 



109 

counted among transgressors. All this, and much more 
did the God-man do for thee, O soul. All His agony, 
all His sorrows, all the bruises and wounds that thou 
seest upon Him, were caused by thee. All this did He 
voluntarily suffer for thee, that He might thereby re- 
deem thee and prepare for thee joy and salvation. 

What language shall I borrow 
To thank Thee, dearest Friend. 
For this Thy dying sorrow, 
Thy pity without end! 
O make me Thine forever, 
And should I fainting be, 
Lord, let me never, never, 
Outlive my love to Thee. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith 
Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me. 

— And he began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 

Mat 26: 30. 31. 37. 

Oh, that the hearts of all men would repair to that 
place in spirit and, if only for an hour, earnestly 
consider what the Savior there suffered for them ! Then 
all would surely say farewell to sin and to the world 
and throw themselves into His arms : they would be- 
come Christians. Yet, O pious Christian, even though 
they will not all go .with you thither; even though they 
be offended because of Him, even though they all regard 
His sufferings as of little consequence, you will never- 
theless often repair to Him, your suffering Atoner. 
It will be your dearest occupation on earth, the delight 
and joy of your heart to gladden your soul by the suffer- 
ings of the Redeemer. Nowhere else will you find bow- 
ers with such delightful fragrance, nowhere else inhale 
an aroma more bracing for spirit and heart than in this 
garden. No clearer light can shine for you than that 
which shines for you this night, as you throw your- 
self down before your Savior on the Mount of Olives, 
regard Him while He prays for you, weeps, sighs, 
struggles, perspirng blood for your sake. O do not 



no 

let this most sacred event, the most remarkable that 
ever took place and that ever was recorded on earth — 
do not let it be recorded in vain for you; but gather 
together all that has been written concerning the sor- 
rows and sufferings of your Savior, place them as costly 
gems in the treasury of your heart and feast your eyes 
day and night therewith. Then you are richer and hap- 
pier than all who are called happy and rich on earth. 

Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, 
Which before the Cross I spend, 
Life, and health, and peace possessing 
From the sinners' dying Friend. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And being m an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his 
sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the 
ground. Luke 22: 44. 

What few words, and yet how much they contain! 
Centuries will not suffice, and all tongues and pens are 
too few, to state or describe what the Savior has suf- 
fered. He who quickens the dead ; He who, like the 
Father, has life in Himself; He who has given to all 
life and spirit and all things ; struggles in death in order 
that He may give to all sinners guilty of death, life and 
salvation. He struggles in death, is full of the agony of 
death. How incomprehensible is .this, and yet what a 
matter of joy, and how trustworthy! Life, the Origin- 
ator of life, struggles in death, and His agony and 
terror wring from Him bloody sweat, — and you will 
put no restraint upon yourself that you may become 
disengaged from the sin that causes Him so much pain? 
He prays, and prays ever more forcibly and earnestly, 
— and you will not be constant in prayer, letting your 
hands fall so soon? His sweat becomes like blood be- 
cause of your sins, — and you are neither anxious nor 
troubled, you do not feel concerned about your salva- 
tion ? You leave that to the gracious God and follow your 
inclinations. Alas! I fear that you let the bloody sweat 
of your Savior fall on the ground without making use 



Ill 

of it and that it will be lost for you. O come, and make 
haste to the Mount of Olives. Behold the drops of His 
blood ! Pray, and struggle with your Savior until you 
perceive the power and the efficacy of His blood in your 
heart, until you have found peace in Him. Then 
do not let go of that which you find in Him but hold it 
fast throughout all eternity. 

Glory be to Jesus, 
Who, in bitter pains, 
Poured for me the life-blood 
From His sacred veins! 

Abel's blcod for vengeance 
Pleaded to the skies; 
But the blood of Jesus 
For our pardon cries! 



THE THIRD SUNDAY II* LENT. 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 
despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of 
the throne of God. Heb. 12: 2. To him that overcometh 
will I grant to sit with me in my thrcne, even as I also 
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 
Rev. 3: 21. 

In afflictions and deep darkness nothing is more 
beneficial, comforting, and strengthening than a look 
at Jesus, the suffering and the crucified Redeemer. Turn 
not your eyes hither and thither and do not seek com- 
fort here and there in men and nature. Seek it 
where it is to be found, where it lies prepared for you. 
Look to Jesus who is the "author" of the work of 
faith in you; He shall and must also be its "finisher." 
See Him suffer and die. Behold Him at whose service 
all joy and glory in heaven stood, away back in eternity, 
who yet, voluntarily, left all joy and chose the cross, 
and death, re-entering His glory. That which His 
divine power accomplished and wrought in His human 
nature, it is able to accomplish even in you, in your hu- 
man nature, for you are bone of His bones and flesh 
of His flesh. As He conquered in His great misery 



112 

and agony, so also shall you conquer by Him, if you re- 
gard Him in faith. As He, after His sufferings, was 
exalted to the right hand of God, and sits on the throne 
in^ Hi's human nature, so also shall you be exalted by 
Him if you overcome by Him. That which He could 
accomplish and become, you can accomplish and become 
by Him. Follow Him with your eyes from the Mount 
of Olives to the right hand of God and let His power 
work mightily in you; then shall you also enter with 
Him from suffering into glory. 

Jesus, may our hearts be burning, 
With more fervent love for Thee; 
May our eyes be ever turning 
To Thy Cross of agony; 
Till in glory, parted never 
From the blessed Savior's side, 
Graven in our hearts forever, 
Dwell the Cross, the Crucified. 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 



And he fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, 
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless 
not as I will, but as thou wilt. Mat. 26: 39. 

What art thou, O man? How deeply art thou fallen 
since the Son of God must fall to earth in such a 
struggle for thy sake ! How great thy depravity must be, 
bow terrible thy sin, how dangerous thy wounds, and 
how incurable thy disease, since thy Physician must 
work Himself to death enduring so muh agony and 
misery. From the means employed to effect thy cure 
thou couldst and shouldst draw the conclusion as to 
the nature of thy disease. The means is .awe-inspiring. 
One can not think of it without heartrending sorrow. 
It cuts the innermost parts of the soul like a two-edged 
sword and penetrates marrow and bones. How terrible 
and hopeless thy injury, thy disease ! Oh, then learn 
by regarding thy Atoner and Mediator, thy Physician 
and Savior, His pain and suffering, to know thyself and 
to understand who and what thou art. Humble thyself 
for once and cast thyself down before Him on that earth 



«3 

which is dyed with His bloody sweat shed for thee! 
Gather up the drops of His blood in thy heart, that it 
may thereby become softened, changed and cleansed. 
This bitter cup of death hast thou filled for Him. Thou 
hast by thy sins filled this cup with death, and with the 
terrors of death, and He was compelled to drink it. 
In the place thereof He now hands to thee the cup of 
salvation and life. Open the mouth of faith and drink. 
Seest thou thy Savior lying on His face praying for 
thee, and emptying the most bitter cup in thy stead, 
then do not feel ashamed to bow thy knees and on thy 
face pay Him homage and beseech Him for power and 
grace to wage the battle and to be patient during the 
days of thy pilgrimage. 

May Thy rich grace impart 

Strength tc my fainting heart, • 

My zeal inspire; 

As Thou hast died for me, 

Oh, may my love to Thee 

Pure, warm, and changeless be, 

A living fire. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 



Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners 
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 
Heb. 12: 3. Fear not; for I have redeemed thee; thou art 
mine. Is. 43: 1. 

When the perverted spirit of mistrust comes upon 
you, hasten to Golgotha and behold there what your 
God has done and suffered for you. When you fix your 
eye on this, faith and trust must be revived, and the 
sleep of mistrust and despondency must leave you. 
Send all doubts and all devils to the cross of Christ ; 
there they may try their strength and demonstrate their 
power. Do not forget that you, as a defenceless child, 
are not equal to them and that you can not cope with 
them. Take refuge in your mother's bosom ; throw 
yourself with confidence in the arms of your crucified 
Redeemer ; He will fight for you and kill all the doubts 
and all the temptations on His cross. For in the 



ii4 

atmosphere of the cross they do not thrive but must die. 
If they meet you outside of Golgotha, far away from 
the cross of Christ, then you are beaten. Their breath 
poisons, paralyzes and kills- you. Keep therefore con- 
stantly at the cross of Christ. Consider incessantly His 
suffering and death by which He has redeemed and ran- 
somed you. Just on that account you are His, and no 
devil shall tear you from Him, if you only remain in 
Him, and depart not from His cross. There all mis- 
trusting thoughts and- doubts that weaken your confi- 
dence, become unveiled as liars and blasphemers. For 
all doubts in regard to the Word of God and its promises 
are lies and blasphemies, because they contradict His 
Word and present it as false and as a fabrication. They 
are the brood of hell, the children of the devil, which 
you must crush against the rock of the cross of Christ. 

When I survey the wondrous cross 
On which the Prince of glory died, 
My richest gain I count but loss, 
And pour contempt an all my pride. 
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, 
Save in the cross of Christ, my God: 
All the vain things that charm me most, 
I sacrifice them to His blood. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 

The chastisement of our peace was upon him. 

And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Is. 53: 
5. 6. 

What do you fear, O sinner? The penalty of sin? 
Do you fear judgment", death, devil, and hell, as the 
wages earned by your sins? Do not fear that which 
does not lie upon you, but which lay upon Christ. He 
entered the judgment, and death, and the battle against 
the devil, and hell, for you. He has endured, overcome 
and conquered it all. Why then, do you fear that which 
no more lies upon you, that which was laid upon the 
back of the Lamb and which He has taken away, blot- 
ted out and made good? But how did your sins come 
to lie upon His back ? God laid them upon Him because 



H5 

He foresaw that you could not bear them and blot them 
out, and that they would crush you. God took pity upon 
your back, and therefore He laid your sins upon the 
back of His Son, and the Son took them upon Himself, 
voluntarily, and carried them away. Therefore, do not 
fear that which is abolished and blotted out, but turn 
your eye diligently to the back of the Lamb and behold 
how heavily He is laden with your sins ; how He, bowed 
down beneath His heavy burden, is in deep agony; how 
He sighs, sweats blood and comes near to perishing. 
Learn from this to fear that which is yet terrible, and 
which will always continue to be terrible, as long as you 
sojourn in the flesh, namely, the sinful lusts that tempt 
you unto sin. Learn, by considering the Lamb laden 
with sin, what an evil sin is and how carefully you must 
guard against it and against laying new burdens upon 
the Lamb of God and call down upon you new judg- 
ments and new penalties. On the other fjand, seek to 
possess that peace which the Lamb of God by blotting 
out your sins has purchased for you. This peace your 
old sins shall not and can not steal from you ; but new 
unfaithfulness and new offences against the Lamb will 
rob you of it. Beware and regard unceasingly the 
Lamb of God. 

Thou didst bear the smiting only 
That it might not fall on me; 
Stoodest falsely charged and lonely, 
That I might be safe and free; 
Comfortless that I might know 
Comfort from thy boundless woe. 
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, 
Blessed Jesus, unto Thee. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the 
place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 
where they crucified him. John 19: 17. 18. 

He who carries heaven and earth and all things by 
the word of His power carries your cross, O soul, and 
because of His love for you, He calls it "His cross." 



n6 

His love has appropriated it. For no cross belongs 
to Him. The heavens and all the glories of the 
heavens are His. Glory and adoration are due Him 
both from angels and from men. Now He has a cross, 
the tree of the curse, of disgrace and death upon His 
shoulders and calls it His own cross as if He were the 
guilty one, the sinner that must needs die upon the cross. 
Thus He goes forth beneath your cross, which He loves 
as His own, and He bears your guilt. Follow Him, O 
soul, with your eyes ; consider this road of the cross 
which your Savior walks. Think for a moment ! How 
could God lay such a heavy cross upon His beloved Son? 
Think of it ! Your cross which you should have carried 
He took from your shoulders and laid it upon the shoul- 
ders of His innocent Son, as if you were dearer to Him, 
and as if you lay heavier on His heart than His Son. 
Who can comprehend such love? No man and no angel. 
The angels desire to look into this mystery of God's 
love, but they are unable to do so ; they also, as we, have 
eyes too weak and too shortsighted to fathom these 
depths. But there is something which you can do and 
which you ought to do, namely, to take up that cross 
which He bore for you, give it a place in your heart, 
never forget how heavy the cross was that He had to 
carry for you, how highly God has loved you inasmuch 
as He spared not His own Son, but laid your cross, that 
you yourself could not bear, upon Him in order that you 
should not perish but be saved and blessed. 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
That were a tribute far too small; 
Love so amazing, so divine, 
Demands my soul, my life, my all. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Basha/i 
have beset me round. I may tell all my bones: they look and 
stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and 
cast lots upon my vesture. Ps. 22: 12. 17. 18. 

Jesus was robbed of His garments and nailed to the 
cross naked. He permitted all things to be taken from 



ii7 

Him. He permitted His Hfe to be taken, in order that 
He might give us life, the garment of innocence and 
of glory, and the vesture of righteousness. He who 
clothes all things, the flowers of the field, all the 
fowl in the air, and the whole earth in such varied 
beauty, stands stripped of all beauty, as the poorest and 
the most despised, as a sheep for the slaughter, in 
order to sacrifice Himself for His creatures. He who 
taught, "If a man will take away thy coat, let him have 
thy cloak also," has permitted Himself to be stripped 
perfectly naked so that there was not even a thread left 
upon Him which He did not sacrifice for us. Who will 
permit to be taken from him a single garment even of 
his superfluous clothing? How highly do not men value 
their clothes ! How much vanity does not dwell inside 
of their clothing! How proud are they not of this 
borrowed beauty ! How do they not despise a person 
who is poorly dressed ! What privilege do not nice 
clothes give to the fool and the ung'odly over the wise 
and the pious who are plainly attired ! How many do 
not spend nearly their whole life thinking of their clothes ! 
Behold, for this reason stands the Creator of all things 
stripped. Nevertheless, He has yet a garment left, more 
beautiful and more costly than any other garment that 
covers Him in His nakedness, which the angels admire 
and which we together with them will eternally worship. 
Light, love, humility and patience, are His garment in 
which He beams. But this shining raiment, however, 
can be seen only by eyes that God hath opened. O 
Lord, give us the faculty by which to see and compre- 
hend the beauty of Thy nakedness ! 

Christ the Life of all the living, 
Christ the death of death our foe, ♦ 

Who Thyself for us once giving 
To the darkest depths of woe, 
Patiently didst yield Thy breath 
But to save my soul from death; 
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, 
Blessed Jesus unto Thee. 



n8 

SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of 
joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted i/i the midst of my 
bowels. For dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the 
wicked have inclosed me; they pierced my hands and my 
feet. Ps. 22: 14. 16. He teacheth my hands to war. Ps. 
18: 34. Wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling? Ps. 56: 
13. 

Thus did David complain in the name of 'Messiah, 
foreseeing His sufferings and also how the children of 
Israel would once "compass" Him and nail Him to the 
tree of the cross. If the ancients in the spirit considered 
the coming sufferings of the Savior and alluded thereto 
even though only certain fragments thereof stood clearly 
out before them, and even that in dim outlines, ought 
not we, then, let His sufferings constantly be before the 
eyes of our souls and not overlook even the least partic- 
ular in His sufferings? Dear heart, behold how your 
Savior who so often stretched forth His hands to heal and 
to cure now of His own free will stretches out the same 
hands and permits them to be nailed to the cross for your 
sake, that cross at which you have not even patience to 
remain. May the pain which He felt from the strokes 
of the hammer that drove the nails through His blessed 
hands and feet, pierce your soul and cure it from every 
desire for the joys of the world! Grasp this hammer 
and these nails in spirit when your hands reach out after 
forbidden enjoyments, and your feet are inclined to fol- 
low some wrong path ; when the lust of the flesh, selfish- 
ness and concupiscence make themselves felt in you, and 
nail them to the cross of Christ. Then you are crucified 
with Christ and shall live with Him ; then His nailed 
hands shall teach your hands to warfare, and His pierced 
feet shall keep your feet from stumbling. But if you 
permit the evil lust to live in you, what benefit do you 
derive from your Savior on the cross? "They that are 
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and 
lusts" (Gal. 5: 24; Rom. 6: 6). 



ii9 

Lo, here I fall, my Savior! 
Tis I deserve Thy place! 
Look on me with Thy favor, 
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace. 
Receive me, my Redeemer; 
My Shepherd, make me Thine! 
Of every good the Fountain, 
Thou art the Spring of mine! 



THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his 
right hand, and the other on his left. Mark 15: 27. There- 
fore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall 
divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured 
out his soul unto death; and he was numoered with the 
transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made in- 
tercession for the transgressors. Is. 53: 12. 

He hung between thieves and transgressors as if 
He were the chief among them" Thus He would have 
it. All men are transgressors (Rom. 3: 12). He had 
taken upon Himself the transgressions of all men and 
bore them in His body on the tree. What shame, what 
disgrace, was then laid upon the most holy Son of God ! 
How could the eyes of the most loving Father endure to 
see Him in such company, in such a place, hanging be- 
tween thieves on the cursed tree? The Father did see 
Him and suffered Him to hang. Why? Because He 
hated Him ? O no ! but because He loved you ; because 
He would blot out your transgressions and out of trans- 
gressors make righteous and blessed men. Thus only 
God loves. Thus no man or angel can love. But because 
He humbled Himself so deeply, not despising the trans- 
gressors, He shall receive a multitudinous host of sin- 
ners as His portion and peculiar possession ; yea, He 
shall even make "the strong," the grossest and most 
hardened transgressors, His spoil. O soul, consider your 
Savior on the cross in His disgrace and in His love ! 
How much is not wrought by His love ! What glorious 
and innumerable fruits does not this tree bear! How 
far does not the power of His sufferings and prayers 
for sinners reach ! Sinners of all centuries and of all 
peoples on earth may thank His bleeding intercession 



120 

upon the cross for salvation and blessedness. The grant- 
ing of His prayers has no end. The world without end 
shall declare it. 

In the cross of Christ I glory, 
Towering o'er the wrecks of time; 
All the light of sacred story- 
Gathers round its head sublime. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And (before they crucified him) they gave him vinegar 
to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, 
he would not drink. Mat. 27: 34. Then said Jesus, Father, 
forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23: 34. 

They offer Him gall : He repays the bitter draught 
with the sweet prayer for the forgiveness of their sins. 
What is all our conduct and action but gall and worm- 
wood? Sin manifestly is more bitter to Him than gall 
and more distasteful than vinegar and tincture of myrrh. 
He is not fond of this bitter draught which we offer 
Him. Nevertheless, He does not reject nor curse us 
because of this ; but He appears before His Father in 
our stead and prays that God will not impute to us 
our sins nor judge us. However, after God has par- 
doned you, you must no longer offer Him gall and tinc- 
ture of myrrh, but the sweet wine of love and gratitude. 
Your soul must cling to God with a loving and faithful 
heart. The bitter gall of evil lust, of hatred and of 
envy, is unbearable to Him. His grace will create in 
you a burning desire to please Him; a holy earnestness 
in ''denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and in living 
soberly, righteously, and godly in this present wOrld." 
He turns from His murderers to His Father; yet not 
against them, but for them. He does not call down 
vengeance upon His enemies, but the Father's mercy; 
He does not offer up complaints, but extenuations and 
intercessions ; He does not demand of His Father that 
He send down fire to destroy His* enemies, but that 
He would grant them forgiveness and grace ; draw them 
to Himself ; save them, and make them eternally blessed. 



121 

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, 
All our sins on Thee were laid; 
By almighty Love anointed, 
Thou hast full atonement made. 
All Thy people are forgiven, 
Through the virtue of Thy blood: 
Opened is the gate of heaven; 
Peace is made 'twixt man and God. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. 
Mat. 27: 39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged 
railed oji him. But the other said unto Jesus, Lord, remem- 
ber me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus 
said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be 
with me in Paradise. Luke 23: 39. 42. 43. Jesus saith unto 
his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the 
disciple, Behold thy mother! John 19: 26. 27. 

They revile ; He saves. They wag their heads in 
order to hurt His feelings ; He moves the hearts of 
sinners in order to do good to them. Yet, while they 
all, the priests as well as the people, railed at Him ; 
while they all rejected and cursed Him, there was one 
who prayed to Him. He was, to be surer only a thief, 
and no saint; yet his prayer was granted. He did not 
pray to be delivered from the cross, but that he, after 
death on the cross, might enter into the kingdom of 
•heaven. It was a large petition. A thief desires the 
kingdom of heaven ! What connection is there between 
heaven and a thief? Yet his prayer was granted on 
the spot. The more others curse and scoff, revile and 
despise, the more trustfully may you pray, and the more 
will you receive. The fewer they be around you who 
seek Christ and love Him, the more trustfully may you 
confess Him ; then shall you be received all the more 
lovingly and be all the more welcome. Though you 
regard yourself as unworthy of grace and the kingdom 
of heaven as the thief, if only your heart be penitent 
and believing as his heart was ; if you are not ashamed 
to confess yourself before all the world as a malefactor 
guilty of death, and Christ as Lord of the kingdom, 
as your Rescuer and Savior, then you will receive the 



122 

same answer and promise as the thief received. He 
condemned himself, and Christ declared him saved. 
He sailed against the tide of the whole world; he did 
not conform himself to the railing priests nor to the 
reviling people, nor to the scoffer who was crucified 
with him ; but he yearned for Christ and His kingdom, 
and it all became his portion. Go and do likewise. 
When Christ on the cross looked to sinners and received 
them, how can He forget His friends and loved ones? 
His words to Mary and John bear clear testimony to 
His unchangeable love for His friends until the end. 
He is the most tender friend. No human heart loves 
as His heart loves. 

Jesus sinners doth receive, 

When they fall contrite before Him, 

When His teachings they believe, 

And with new life will adore Him: 

Blessed he who can believe 

Jesus sinners doth receive. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the 
land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus 
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? 
that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. 
Mat. 27: 45. 46. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had 
offered up prayers and suppplications, with strong crying 
and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, 
and was heard in that he feared. Heb. 5: 7. 

Without and within densest darkness brooded over 
Christ. Fierce war raged between light and darkness. 
He, the Light of the world, was about to destroy the 
kingdom of darkness ; conquer the prince of darkness, 
and transform the children of the night into the children 
of light. Therefore He must needs expose Himself to 
the united assaults of the grim powers of Satan. The 
struggle must reach its crisis. The light ^seemed to 
succumb and darkness to triumph; the light seemed 
already extinguished ; darkness seemed to hold sway. 
Night^ shrouded the earth. The day had seeming- 
ly vanish. But His patience, His strong inward 






123 

crying, and His praying in tears, which now had 
reached their height, prevailed, conquered everything, 
and completed the victory. Then He showed how the 
Christian must conquer by succumbing, and how the 
enemy of light must succumb by conquering. Here 
upon the cross, and in these words, we are enabled to 
behold Christianity in its true manifestation. When 
all lights go out and the day is shrouded in black night ; 
when God has transformed Himself into an enemy and 
an opponent and seems to be on the side of the enemy, 
so that even he who has the strongest faith in God, 
can offer up nothing but complaints and "strong cry- 
ing," then victory is near and triumph sure. Tarry here, 
O soul ! This "strong crying," this praying in tears 
in Christ's deepest agony, has saved you from eternal 
darkness and death. Thus your Redeemer must be for- 
saken and troubled that you might be accepted and com- 
forted. All your comfort and peace flow from this 
fountain of the agony of Jesus. 

How art Thou pale with anguish, 
With sore abuse and scorn! 
How does that visage languish, 
Which once was bright as morn! 
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, 
Was all for sinners' gain; 
Mine, mine was the transgression, 
But Thine the deadly pain. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now ac- 
complished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I 
thirst: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon 
hyssop, and put it to his mouth. John 19: 28. 29. 

After the dark hour in which He had been forsaken 
by God, Jesus now had in His heart the consciousness 
of victory. He saw in spirit the accomplishment of all 
things, the liberation of captive humanity and the dis- 
comfiture of all its enemies. Hence He says, "I thirst." 
For what does He thirst? O Thou eternal One, upon 
whom the eyes of all do wait ; Thou who openest Thine 



124 

hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing ; Thou 
who givest "waters in the wilderness and rivers in the 
desert, to give' drink to Thy people, Thy chosen" (Is. 43 : 
20) ; Thou who turnedst water into wine, and madest 
the water spring forth out of the rock to slake the thirst 
of men and beasts ; Thou who givest rain on dry ground 
and keepest the waters of the sea together as in a heap ; 
Thou who measurest the waters with Thine hand — for 
what dost Thou thirst ? For our salvation ; for the bless- 
edness of Thy redeemed people. But how do they 
quench Thy thirst? Thou thirstest, and they give Thee 
vinegar This is the true picture which shows how men 
render thanks to their Creator and Redeemer, and how 
they reward His benefits. How many are the varieties 
of fruit and beverage which He has created, with which 
man may quench his thirst and be refreshed ! But 
now when the Creator thirsts for us and in our stead, 
we give Him vinegar. Yet, as He Himself would have 
it thus; and thus it was written (Ps. 69: 22). This 
burning thirst is become to us a well that never runs 
dry ; a river of life and a most blessed fount of re- 
freshing. He, the Good Shepherd, thirsted thus that 
we might "lie down in green pastures" and that He 
might lead us "beside still waters" (Ps. 23: 2). He, 
the Fountain of Life, was dried up that we might "draw 
water with joy out of the wells of salvation" (Is. 12: 
3.) He must suffer from thirst, that He might invite 
all and say, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to 
the waters" (Is. 55 :i.) "For in that day (after His 
thirst) shall a living water go out from Jerusalem, out 
from Golgotha where He suffered the burning thirst 
and languished" (Zech. 14:8.) Thou, Jesus; must needs 
thirst, that Thou mightest say, "Whosoever drinketh of 
the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. He 
that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of 
living water. I will give unto him that is athirst of 
the fountain of life freely. I will sprinkle clean water 
upon you" (John 4: 14; 7: 38; Rev. 21 : 6; Ezek. 361.2). 
Such water, such refreshment, hath Thy thirst prepared 



125 

for us. We all drink from Thy thirst. Thy languishing- 
refreshes us. 

Rejected and despised of men, 
Behold a man of woe! 
And grief His close companion still 
Through all His life below! 

Yet all the grief He felt was ours, 
Ours were the woes He bore: 
Pangs, not His own, His spotless soul 
With bitter anguish tore. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 
It is finished. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, 
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And he bowed 
his head and gave up the ghost. John 19: 30; Luke 23: 46. 

Here bow the knee and worship ! A greater word 
has never been uttered on earth; a word richer in re- 
sults has never been heard. My soul, what is "finished?" 
Your redemption and eternal salvation ; your justifica- 
tion and sanctification, and glory; the blotting out of 
your sins ; the living hope of eternal glory ; your son- 
ship and heirship with God, yea, your second cre- 
ation, or re-creation ; your transformation from a child 
of darkness to a child of light; from the slave of 
sin to a child of grace ; from a prey of hell to a 
member of the household of God and a fellow cit- 
izen of the saints in heaven ; from being the haunt 
of an unclean spirit to the temple of God, the abode 
of the Holy Trinity. Who can express by name 
all that the Son of God has "finished" by His sufferings 
and death? All this is now yours; it is "finished" for 
you, prepared and ready ; you may possess it and enjoy 
it ; it is intended for you and offered to you in the 
Gospel. What would be more precious, to the Son of 
God, whom the accomplishment of all this cost so much 
suffering, yea even death, than that you already had it 
all in your possession and enjoyed it, that He might 
see in your heart all these fruits of His redeeming 
work? The whole day He stretches forth His pierced 
hands to you, that He may pour into your lap and im- 






126 

part to you all that He has won by His bitter agony. 
"Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it," says the Lord. 
(Ps. 81 : 10). You shall be "abundantly satisfied with 
the fatness of His house" and "you shall drink of 
the river of His pleasures" ( Ps. 36: 8). Believe, love, 
hope. Give yourself with your whole soul to the 
Author and Finisher of your salvation, and all shall be 
yours, yours eternally. Do not glory in Christ and 
His grace with your lips only; but let your heart be 
filled with the power, the fulness and the grace of 
Christ's redemption ; then your mouth will overflow with 
His praises. 

'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid. 
"Receive my soul," He cries; 
See where He bows His sacred head! 
He bows His head and dies! 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, — 
who also maketh intercession for us. Rom. 8: 34. 

"Who is he that condemneth?" Thus asks Paul. 
May you also ask thus when sin and Satan assail you and 
would deprive you of all comfort and faith. Flee to the 
cross of Christ. Consider Him and see how He bows 
His head and dies. He inclines His head to you ; He dies 
that you may live. O sacred sojourn at the death of Je- 
sus upon the cross ! As the bees rest in the flowers and 
bury themselves deeply in their calyxes and absorb their 
sweet nectar, so every pious soul lies down upon the 
cross of Christ, settles his heart and thoughts deeply, 
as deeply as possible, into the cup of Christ's woe and 
atoning love, and absorbs from the eternal fountain of 
healing all comfort in life and death. What greater com- 
fort could the Father bestow upon sinful men than that 
He let His Son die for them upon the cross? Who can 
now impute to us our sins ? Who can judge or condemn 
us when the offended One, against whom we have 
sinned, who alone would have the right to condemn and 
punish, has permitted Himself to be condemned and exe- 



127 ' 

cuted in behalf of the sinners deserving of condemnation 
and punishment? The judge Himself dies for the 
malefactor. Who then shall prosecute and judge the 
malefactor? The Lord, the Judge, suffers the punish- 
ment of the servant. Who, then, shall punish the ser- 
vant? The One that has been wronged prays for the 
wrongdoer. Who, then, shall condemn the sinner? 

My faith looks up to Thee, 
Thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine; 
Now hear me while I pray; 
Take all my guilt away; 
Oh, let me from this day 
Be wholly Thine. 



THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation 
(Israel) only, but that he should gather togetner in one the 
children of God that were scattered abroad. John 11: 51. 52. 
To make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
and that, he might reconcile both unto God in one body by 
the cross. Eph. 2: 15. 16. 

The Messiah of the Jews should not only blot out 
the sins of the Jews, but the sins of all men and re- 
unite with God and mutually reconcile all those who 
had been separated from God, and had become mutually 
discordant. His soul's separation from His body, His 
death then, was the reuniting and the eternal connect- 
ing of all things separated. His soul was poured 
out: thus He "gathered tog-ether" and united all 
who were "scattered abroad." Xow His death, His 
pierced heart, shall be the point of connection for all 
the hearts of men. Beneath His cross, from which 
salvation and life issue forth for all, should we unite, 
of whatever people or of whatever religion we may be. 
Having a Shepherd who has given His life for all the 
sheep, we should be one fold. All separations, sects and 
schisms, are a dishonor to Christ and His death. For 
He died and caused His heart to be sundered, that all 
who are. separated may be united in Him. Oh, that His 
blood and death, aside from which no man can be saved, 



128 

may soon gather together all the scattered children of 
God! For they are yet far from each other, separated 
by petty non-essentials. Let us look away from every- 
thing else and only look unto Him and His cross. 
Then we become one body under one head; then we 
shall have peace inwardly and outwardly and be one 
new man only. But the old man, which yet possesses 
so much life, causes separation, and will cause separation 
everywhere, until he is slain on the cross of Christ. 

Lord, grant that all who worship Thee 
May in Thy love united be; 
And that in unity they may 
Proclaim Thee, Lord, from day to day. 



MONDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for 
yourselves, and for your children. For if they do these 
things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 
23: 28. 31. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where 
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4: 18. 

The pious women followers of Jesus wept when their 
Master was led through the crowded streets of the so- 
called Holy City as a malefactor condemned to death. 
And who would not have wept? Who ought not weep 
as often as he thinks, "Such disgrace my innocent 
Savior must suffer because of me, a sinner worthy of 
disgrace ; and yet I reward Him so poorly. It is so diffi- 
cult for me to suffer even an insigificant dishonor 
for His sake." The Savior foresaw this, and while He 
does not blame them for shedding tears, yet He does 
not say that they ought not weep. For they ought to 
weep, but not for Him. He does not need our tears. 
We should weep for ourselves. You surely do not 
ask why? If you know your heart, you will find enough 
for which to weep, yea, even to weep blood if that were 
possible. "For if they do such things in a green tree," 
since God because of sin did not spare His own Son, 
but gave Him up to such dishonor, to the cross and to 
death, — "what shall be done in the dry?" (Luke 



129 

23- 3 1 )- What will God do to the sinner who will not 
be softened, nor converted and saved by this great 
love of God? What will He do to the false Christians 
who weep, but who do not cling to the Savior with 
their whole heart; who live to this world and to them- 
selves and not to Him who died for them? Thou dry 
tree, thou unfruitful Christian, who without heart, with- 
out repentance, and without love, callest Jesus thy Savior 
and sayest, "Lord, Lord," but doest not His will, who 
boastest of the righteousness and the merits of Christ, 
and yet art satisfied with the righteousness of the Phari- 
sees ; thou dry tree, become green once more ! Graft 
thyself by repentance, faith and love into the green tree 
of the cross of Christ, into the fellowship of His suf- 
ferings and death. Then thou shalt not be consumed, 
but thou shalt escape the eternal fire. 

Then for all that wrought our pardon, 
For Thy sorrows deep and sore, 
For Thine anguish in the garden, 
I will thank Thee evermore; 
Thank Thee with my latest breath 
For Thy sad and cruel death, 
For that last and bitter cry; 
Eraise Thee evermore on high. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while 

we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when 

we were enemies, we were rconciled to God by the death of 
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by 
his life. Rom. 5: 8. 10. 

How could love better assert itself and glorify itself 
than by dying for its enemies, for sinners? Will love 
now destroy us and give us up to death after we have 
acknowledged and believed it, and have it dwelling in 
our hearts? What a pledge of bliss and eternal life 
has it not given us ! Love is our pledge, our hope, 
our eternal life — here by anticipation and hereafter in 
full enjoyment. Since God sought and found us when 
we fled from Him, will He flee from us and turn us 



13° 

away when we seek and find Him ? Since God 
effected our atonement at the cost of the blood and death 
of His Son, shall He again cast us away? Shall He 
not rather save us, inasmuch as our salvation will glori- 
fy His Son's life and exalt the glory of the Son? 
Since God has been good to us when we were yet His 
enemies, shall He reward us with evil after we are 
become His friends? When we loved sin and served 
Satan He died for us ; will He now slay and destroy us 
when we love and serve Him? When He loved even 
unto death those who hated Him, how much more will 
He not love those who love Him? Let us therefore no 
more depart from the cross of Christ, that we may 
learn the love of God and know it in all its greatness 
and glory. May we learn to love Him, hope and trust 
in Him. 

Jesus! the very thought of Thee 
With gladness fills my breast; 
But dearer far Thy face to see, 
And in Thy presence rest. 
And those who find Thee, find a bliss 
Nor tongue nor pen can show: 
The love of Jesus — what it is, 
None but His loved ones know. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that 
are sanctified. Heb. 10: 14. In that day there shall be a 
fountain opened to the house of David, for sin and for un- 
cleanness. Zech. 13: 1; Heb. 10: 22. 

The death of our Savior is "an offering" and "a foun- 
tain": a sacrifice for the reconciliation and the justifica- 
tion of the sinner ; a fountain for health and for perfect 
healing from all vice — in all respects a perfect redemp- 
tion, freedom from sin, and sanctification. It takes the 
guilt, the penalty, from the conscience and destroys the 
root of evil in the heart, so that it can not break out 
again and become dominating. It is a sacrifice that 
atones for all sin in the world. There is no necessity 
for any sinner to despair, no matter how great his 



i3i 

sins may be, yea, even though they were more numer- 
ous than grains of sand on the sea-shore, drops in 
the ocean, or leaves on the trees. The offering of Jesus 
blots out all his guilt, bears all his penalty and effects 
a perfect reconciliation for him. It is also just as 
sufficient for sanctification. Whenever the traces of 
sin show themselves in us, we need only go to this 
fountain and draw from this well of health from which 
the water of life issues forth ; it washes away all our 
uncleanness, and gives new strength to recover from 
the sickness of sin and to grow strong in soul and 
spirit. This is the true "Fountain of Health," the only 
one deserving the name. Blessed is he who wishes not 
only to be cleansed, but also to be healed 

Nothing in my hand I bring; 
Simply to Thy cross I cling. 
Naked came to Thee for dress, 
Helpless, look to Thee for grace; 
Foul, I to the fountain fly, 
Wash me, Savior, or I die. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. I 
will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy 
wounds. Jer. 30: 12. 17. With his stripes we are healed. 
Is. 53: 5; 1 Pet 2: 24. 

Here the Lord God tells you whom you are and 
what is your condition. May you hear and understand-. 
You are desperately evil; your wounds are ''incurable.'' 
Who would dare say such things but the Lord, whom 
you dare not contradict? He knows you thoroughly. 
Rest assured that God does not exaggerate. There is 
no salvation for you if He does not save you. But 
however miserable and desperate your condition may 
be, He yet does not cast you away. He says, "I will 
restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy 
wounds/' If you believe Him as to the first, namely, that 
you are completely depraved and incurable, then believe 
Him also as to the second, namely, that He yet will heal 
you. Do not deny nor conceal your depravity. Do 



132 

not cover your wounds with hypocrisy: that will never 
heal them. Give glory to God; confess that His Word 
is the truth, that you are utterly depraved; then He 
will bestow upon you salvation and life. By what 
means? By His wounds — by the wounds of Jesus. He 
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised 
for our iniquities ; "with His stripes we are healed'' 
(Is. 53:5). When we feel bruised and wounded in 
spirit, we shall not lack salvation. He who denies his 
depravity and will not acknowledge his wickedness, or 
who thinks that he can heal himself, or who covers 
his wounds with the words, "the wounds of Jesus," 
without suffering himself to be thoroughly and com- 
pletely healed, his hurt is more than hopeless, his 
wounds can never be healed. Do not make the 
wounds of Jesus a plaster of concealment for your 
wounds. May they be healing, healing to you. There 
are many who say, "We are healed by His wounds ;" 
yet they are not healed, but full of wounds in 
their conscience. If, however, you have actually re- 
ceived forgiveness through His wounds, then remain 
in His wounds, and by their power beware of sin, 
lest sin inflict on you fresh wounds and you become 
a tree twice dead ; it is difficult to revive such a tree. 

O depth of love, in which, past finding, 
My sins through Christ's blood disappear; 
This is for wounds the safest binding, 
There is no condemnation here; 
For Jesus' blood forever cries: 
"Free mercy, mercy!" to the skies. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 



Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for 
you cities of refuge — - — that the slayer that killeth any 
person unawares and unwittingly may flee, thither. Josh. 20: 
2. 3. But if a man came presumptuously upon his neighbor, 
to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mme altar, 
that he may die. Ex. 21: 14. O my dove, that art in the 
clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs. Cant. 
2: 14. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the 
daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a 
covert from storm and from rain. Is. 4: 6. 



133 

The "cities of refuge" in Israel, where the slayer 
found safety and shelter, when the killing was done un- 
wittingly, but which did not help the murderer who slew 
his neighbors intentionally and in guile, are a type of 
the wounds of Jesus. His wounds, like a place of 
refuge, are open to every sinner who honestly confesses 
his sins ; they offer him shelter from judgment, death, 
devil, and hell, which as avengers pursue every sinner 
and threaten him with eternal destruction. He who 
takes refuge in the wounds of Jesus because he 
is weary of sin, and by conversion desires freedom 
from sin* can not be molested: he is saved. But 
as the intentional murderer was not safe nor pro- 
tected even in the temple itself though he should grasp 
the horns of the altar, but was taken, led away 
and turned over to the penalty he deserved : so 
shall neither sinner nor saint console himself with 
the wounds of Jesus if he do not honestly repent ; 
if he secretly or openly love the world and sin ; 
if he appropriate the wounds and the merit of Jesus 
with the mouth only and not with the heart. Such 
a one will be torn away from the altar of the cross, 
from the wounds of Jesus, which he only talks about, 
and cast into hell-fire together with the hypocrite. On 
the other hand, to all who are earnestly seeking sal- 
vation, to all zealous," conscientious souls who are deeply 
concerned about their salvation, the wounds of Jesus 
are blessed "cities of refuge," "clefts in the rock," "secret 
places in the stairs," where they are free and safe from 
the wrath, the penalty, the death, and the hell, which 
they have merited by their sins. There, in every heat 
of tribulation, in every need and affliction, they find 
shadow, coolness, shelter, salvation. Such a place a 
truly pious soul leaves no more. There, it finds eternal 
joy and rest, all power and complete happiness. 

Other refuge have I none; 
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; 
Leave, oh! leave me not alone, 
Still support and comfort me 



134 

All my trust on Thee is stayed; 
All my help from Thee I bring; 
Cover my defenceless head 
With the shadow of Thy wing. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY. 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that 
the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we 
should not serve sin. Rom. 6:6. I am crucified with Christ. 

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross 

of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified un- 
to me, and I unto the world. Gal. 2: 20; 6: 14. 

How many statements of the apostle are not readily 
repeated after him ; yet these declarations are seldom 
heard ; and more seldom are they uttered truthfully ! 
The true Christian can not skim over them as the but- 
terfly skims over the flowers, without drawing honey 
from them. Yet here the best honey will be found. 
The cross, the crucified One, must be in us if we in 
truth believe in Him. When this Rock of Salvation 
is within us, all the billows of raging passion; all the 
temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil, will 
break ag'ainst it and lose their power. Do not let 
Christ, His cross and His merits, be to you the servant 
of sin. Let Christ be the destroyer of sin, who crushes 
the serpent's head in your soul. When the world, and 
sin, and every evil inclination, is a cross to you, and 
you destroy it on the cross of Christ, then are you 
crucified with Christ; then you can truly glory in the 
cross of Christ. Thus only can you crucify sin, "the old 
man." Without Christ and His cross all your endeav- 
ors are in vain and all your glorying but shame and 
injury. 

Jesus, I my cross have taken, 
All to leave and follow Thee; 
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 
Thou, from hence, my soul shalt be: 
Perish every fond ambition, 
All I've sought, or hoped, or known; 
Yet how rich is my condition! 
God and heaven are still my own. 



135 

PALM SUNDAY. 

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of 
the world. John 1: 29. Ye know that ye were not redeemed 
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain 
conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but 
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without 
blemish and without spot. 1 Pet. 1: 18. 19. 

Jesus is "the Lamb" to whom all the messengers of 
God in the old covenant and in the new covenant have 
pointed. Even Isaiah, the evangelist of Israel, saw 
Him and alluded to Him, saying, "He was oppressed, 
and He was afflicted ; yet He opened not His mouth : H*e 
is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep 
before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His 
mouth" (Is. 53: 7). Jesus is the Lamb of God not 
only because of His silent patience in the deepest and 
most shameful sufferings, but more especially as the 
sacrifice and propitiation for our sins. By His blood 
we are delivered from the bondage of sin and the power 
of Satan, in order that we should serve the living 
God. What is more beautiful, more charming and 
attractive than God's presentation of Him whom He 
sends into the world to save us, as a lamb? Before 
a judge and a lord we would be afraid and tremble. 
But a lamb attracts even children and is pleasing to 
all men. How good the Lord is also in this respect! 
Does hell terrify you? does Satan frighten you? does 
the terror of the judgment threaten you? Then look 
to "the Lamb." John points to Him. But that which 
above all else makes this Lamb so attractive to us, is 
that He takes away our sins, that He was slain as a 
perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Just as I am, without one plea 

But that Thy blood was shed for me, 

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, 

O Lamb of God, I come! 

Just as I am; Thou wilt receive, 

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, 

Because Thy promise I believe; 

O Lamb of God, I come! 



136 

MONDAY AFTER PALM SUNDAY. 

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall 
also live with him. Rom. 6: 8. Who died for us, that, 
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with 
him. 1 Thes. 5: 10. 

Christ has bought us in that He died for us. We are 
to belong to Christ, belong eternally to» Him. For this 
reason He died. Woe to him who* turns away from 
Christ, who pretends that he believes on Him and who 
yet does not live unto Him ! He who lives to Him, or in 
Him ; who lives together with Him in such a manner 
as St. Paul would have; as the disciple with the master, 
in a house, in a workshop; he who lives thus intimate- 
ly with Him, finds it easy tq be done with sin. If 
sin comes, the disciple only looks to the Master, and 
he is through with it: sin betakes itself away. If sin 
comes again, we are« again, permitted to turn to the 
Master, the oftener the better. A look at Jesus means 
a thunderbolt for sin ; it acts, besides, as a preserva- 
tive against sin. The life together with Jesus is the 
most blessed life. If men only knew it, they would 
wish for nothing better. Whether we wake or sleep — 
in bed or in the grave — whether we wake here or here- 
after — we shall always be together with Him. We shall 
be perfectly unable to get Him out of our eye, our 
heart and mind, nor will we try to do so. For this 
reason Christ died. So precious were you in His eyes. 
Such a life His death will bestow upon you, here and 
hereafter ; for it shall be and remain an eternal, un- 
broken life together with Him. 

Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, 
Where'er our changeful lot is cast; 
Glad, that Thy gracious smile we see, 
Blest, that our faith can hold Thee fast. 



TUESDAY AFTER PALM SUNDAY. 

Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that 

ye should follow his steps. Who, when he was reviled, 

reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but 



137 

committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. — — 
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the 
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteous- 
ness. 1 Pet. 2: 21-24. 

The sufferings of Jesus, however regarded, are un- 
speakably valuable to us. He suffered for us in every 
respect ; first and chiefly, as our Atoner for the remission 
of our sins, since by faith His merits become my merits. 
I see Him as the Lamb of God making atonement for my 
sins and taking them away ; by His obedience even unto 
death He procures for me a gracious God and Father 
in heaven. Secondly, Christ suffered and died to earn for 
us and to bestow upon us grace, spirit, power and life, 
for the sanctification and renewal of the inner man. His 
death is a fountain of life, a healing well, where all who 
drink are healed. Thirdly, Christ suffered and died as 
"an example" for us and for our consolation in suffering 
and death, that we may look to Him and walk in His 
steps, as the Apostles plainly write. He who regards 
Christ as the Atoner only and not also as our example, 
does not think and act in an apostolic manner any more 
than they who present Him as an example only and 
as a paragon of virtue, but never as the Atoner. He is 
everything to us. We must in no wise dismember Christ, 
but receive Him entire, as He presents Himself and as 
the Apostles preach Him to us. 

Glory in the highest be 
To the blessed Trinity, 
For the Gospel from above, 
For the word that "God is love." 



WEDNESDAY AFTER PALM SUNDAY. 

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that 
bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and 
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to him- 
self, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many 
are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1 Cor. 
11: 28. 29. 

Self-examination is necessary always, every day and 
every hour. Least of all must it be neglected at the cele- 



138 

bration of the Lord's Supper or postponed until a more 
convenient season. At communion it is altogether indis- 
pensable and so essential and necessary that life and 
death, blessing and curse, grace and judgment, are de- 
pendent upon it. According to St. Paul, the celebration of 
the Lord's Supper, without self-exmaination, or (which 
to him is essentially the same) receiving it "unworthily," 
results in severe judgments, and he refers to facts and 
examples from his own time, showing how such un- 
worthy celebration had caused many to incur bodily and 
spiritual weakness, disease, and death itself. Thus the 
Lord chastises those who without self-examination 
thoughtlessly and unworthily receive that body which He 
sacrificed in death for them, and the precious blood which 
He shed for them ; they do not "discern" the difference be- 
tween His body and common food. Do not bring disease 
upon yourself; do not eat judgment and death in the 
Lord's supper ; you may as easily find death there 
as you may find life and salvation. Strong food is not 
for the sick; it only makes them still more ill and mis- 
erable; it may even kill them. The sick should by no 
means eat the same food as the well. That which fur- 
thers the health of the healthy and serves them for 
nourishment and strength, becomes poison and death to 
the sick. Beware therefore, lest by your thoughtlessness 
and impiety you change that food of eternal life, that 
divine bread, that heavenly manna, into judgment and 
damnation. Prove yourself; examine yourself. Pray 
for light and self-knowledge. Confess and acknowledge 
your sins before God and before your offended neighbor. 
Mend the offence you have given as far as you are 
able ; at least do not give new ofjftence by a thoughtless 
and disorderly life when you draw near to the holy 
table. Reconcile yourself to God, to your neighbor and 
to your own heart. Seek to re-establish peace within and 
without. Make it manifest in an unequivocal manner 
that you are in earnest as to your penitence, conversion, 
faith and betterment. Show that you know and feel to 
whom you draw near, namely the righteous God, who 
has eyes as flames of fire and who tries the hearts 
and reins, who knows the secret designs of your heart. 



139 

O God unseen, yet ever near, 

Thy presence may we feel; 

And thus, inspired with holy fear, 

Before Thine altar kneel. 

Here may Thy faithful people know 

The blessings of Thy love; 

The streams that through the desert flow, 

The manna from above. 



MAUNDY THURSDAY. 

With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you 
before I suffer. Luke 22: 15. 

Jesus heartily longs for you, dear guest at the Lord's 
table. He hungers more for you than you hunger for 
Him, as if He were the one to eat and as if you were 
the food. Hence He says, "I have meat to eat that ye 
know not of." Who was present then? A poor woman 
who was a sinner (John 4). Thus it is really food for 
which He hungers, when you come to His table with 
deep yearning and desire to enter into close communion 
with Him ; to be united with Him in the most thorough 
manner; to remember Him and to present Him in such 
a way, in faith, to your spiritual eye, as if you saw Him 
hanging upon the cross, as if He gave Himself to you, 
as if you saw His blood flow, saw Him bow His head 
and die for you. The Savior has something great in 
mind by this Supper. He does not give us empty sym- 
bols of His death. He gives Himself to you. Therefore 
He wants no small and narrow hearts, but enlarged 
hearts ; true faith ; an intense hunger ; that He may give 
much, all — even Himself. The more room you havr -for 
Him, the more you will receive. The greater your lodg- 
ing, the more you will partake of Christ (Heb. 3: 14). 

For such consoling Supper, Lord, 
Be praised throughout all ages! 
Preserve it pure, since 'gainst the word 
"This is!" the world so rages, 
Grant, that Thy body and Thy blood 
Be my sole comfort and sweet food, 
In my last hour. Yea, Amen! 



140 
GOOD FRIDAY, 



God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 

not imputing their trespasses unto them. For he hath 

made him to be sin for us, who knew no siii; that we 
might be made the righteousnes of God in him. 2 Cor. 5: 
19. 21. 

God so loved the world, the sinful, faithless, deeply 
fallen and ungrateful world, that He sacrificed for it 
His innocent, holy and righteous Son, as if the great 
and infamous sinner were dearer to Him than His most 
beloved Son. He who today sees the Son of God dying 
upon the cross for all sinners, slain for the dead, and 
does not learn to read the Holy Scriptures inviting all 
men to the great Supper, beseeching them, "Be ye recon- 
ciled to God !" he who does not learn to read this upon 
the cross., and does not here learn to understand and 
believe, will never learn. For that which even Moses 
realized and concerning which he said, "Truly the Lord 
loves the people," is here written in letters of flame ; 
on the cross it is preached as loudly, intelligibly, and 
-effectually as possible. Oh, may you all draw near 
to the cross of Christ on Golgotha! May you consider 
Him in the spirit, until that fulness of love by which 
God loved us in the death of His Son, shall have pene- 
trated your heart, spirit and soul, marrow and bones, 
and your whole being; and you from your whole soul 
may say, "We love Him because He loved us first." 
Here words only are of no avail. You yourself must go 
to Golgotha; you must see the Son of love bleed upon 
the cross for you ; you must tarry with Him, your eyes 
intently fixed upon Him. His blood, His death, His 
wounds, the bowing of His head, shall speak to you. 
Pay close attention, and let everything else in you keep 
silence. 

O sacred Head, now wounded, 

With grief and shame bowed down, 

Now scornfully surrounded 

With thorns Thy only crown! 

sacred Head, what glory, 
What bliss, till now, was Thine! 

Yet, though despised and gory; . .. . 

1 joy to call Thee mine. 



Hi 

SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER. 



Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen 
clothes with the spices. Now in the place where he was 
crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new 
sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. And Joseph 
took the body and laid it in his own new tomb. John 19: 
40. 41. Mat. 27: 59. 60. 

The sufferings of Christ began in a garden and 
ended in a garden. Blessed garden that received 
His body, sacrificed for us ! Blessed grave above 
all other gloves, that contained His body, who shall 
call forth and quicken all who lie in graves unto- 
the resurrection of life or of judgment! Bless-ed 
Joseph to whom it was given to take down the body 
of Jesus from the cross and lay^ it in that new 
tomb! Who would not envy thee? And yet we have 
much more than thou hast, when we by faith have 
Christ dwelling in our hearts — when we in the sacra- 
ment receive the living body of Jesus in our hearts. 
Oh, that our hearts may cease to be sepulchres of sin ! 
May our hearts become the sepulchres of Christ, to con- 
tain Him forever, swathed in faith, and sealed forever 
with His ardent love ! May we bear in mind what St. 
Paul says : "Know ye not, that so many of us as were 
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death ? 
Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism, into 
death" (Rom. 6: 3. 4). He repeats this in another place 
(Col. 2: 12). We should no more serve sin, no' more let 
sin rule over us. By Christ's death we are dead and cru- 
cified from sin, and have borne sin to its grave. Do 
not revive it, beloved. Let sin continue to be slain -and 
buried through all eternity. Cast out of your hearts 
the dead body of sin and evil desires, and receive Jesus, 
that He may forever live and rule in you. 

Jesus, tender Savior, 
Hast Thou died for me? 
Make me very thankful 
In my heart to Thee. 
When the sad, sad story 
Of Thy grief I read, 



142 

Make me very sorry 
For my sins indeed. 

Now I know Thou livest, 
And dost plead for me; 
Make me very thankful 
In my prayers to Thee. 
Soon I hope in glory 
At Thy side to stand; 
Make me fit to meet Thee 
In that happy land. 



EASTER. 



And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel 
of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled 
back the stone from the door and said, Ye seek Jesus of 
Nazareth, which was crucified. Why seek ye the living among 
the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Mat. 28: 2; Mark 
16: 6; Luke 24: 5. 6. 

At the coming of Jesus to this world, angels were 
the messengers (evangelists) who proclaimed the great 
joy that the Savior was born. At His new birth, when 
He entered from death into life, angels again proclaim 
His resurrection from the grave, His second appearing 
among the living. They kindly reproach the pious 
women who sought among the dead the Lord of Life 
that was risen. What joy it must have been to these 
loving souls that it was vouchsafed to them first to pro- 
claim this great, eternal Gospel in a world of tombs ; that 
they were the first heralds of the kingdom to cry, "He 
is risen 1" If the angels, who are not chiefly concerned, 
rejoice because of this message, how much more ought 
we to rejoice! For He died for us; He rose again for 
us; He lives for us and we with Him, if we rise with 
Him and walk in the newness of life. But how can we 
rejoice when we continue to lie in the bonds of sin and 
death? Then we "seek the living among the dead," and 
will not find Him. He is to be found among the living 
only, who are quickened and risen with Him from the 
tomb of perdition. 



143 

Jesus, my Redeemer lives! 
I, too, unto life must waken: 
He will have me where He is: 
Shall my courage then be shaken? 
Shall I fear? Or could the Head 
Rise and leave its members dead? 



THE SECOND DAY OF EASTER. 



Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the 
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were 
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in 

the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. 

Why are ye troubled? Behold my hands and my feet, that 
it is I myself. John 20: 19. Luke 24: 38. 39. 

The disciples did not hasten to the world when their 
Master was dead and lay in the grave ; on the contrary, 
they shut themselves in, for they feared the world, how- 
beit their fear was not altogether noble; they feared 
that they also might be apprehended and crucified, and 
now they had neither the inclination nor the power to 
meet such a fate. Yet this fear was beneficial to them in 
that they were thereby protected from the world, quietly 
awaiting their Savior. If Jesus shall arise in you, and 
you shall make certain that He lives in you, you must 
first shut out the world and keep your heart open to your 
Savior only. Further, you must also be desirous of seek- 
ing company with those who, like yourself, wait for the 
consolation of Israel, who will not be satisfied with a 
dead Christ, but desire to have the living Jesus. Among 
the dead you are and remain dead ; among the living you 
live. When, as the disciples, you are isolated and dis- 
engaged from the world, absorbed in quiet expectation, 
prayer and supplication, united with all the pious and 
faithful, longing for Jesus, then will He reveal Himself 
in spirit in the midst of your heart, and bring you 
that peace which surpasseth all understanding, the real 
Easter-prize, which He won through His great struggle 
and victory. Thus you shall be assured that it is He 
Himself and no phantom, no ghost. 



144 

Jesus lives! I know full w'ell, 
Naught from me His love shall sever; 
Life, nor death, nor powers of hell, 
Part me now from Christ for ever. 
God will be a sure defence: 
This shall be my confidence. 



TUESDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us 
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 
from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and unde- 
fined, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 
1 Pet. 1: 3. 4. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, 
where Is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 
15: 54. 55. 

The resurrection is the essential part of the Christian 
doctrine; on it depends our faith and our hope, as St. 
Paul explains (i Cor. 15). If Christ were not risen, 
there would be no Christianity; our faith would be use- 
less and our hope empty, the doctrine false, and the whole 
Gospel in vain; then we would not know how we stand 
in this life and in the life to come, which latter we could 
not believe nor hope for. But the resurrection estab- 
lishes all that Ave as Christians believe, hope, and love. 
Above all, Christ's resurrection is to us a regeneration 
unto "a lively hope" of eternal life in that it swallows up 
all fear of death and elucidates for us the life to come in 
our risen Savior. He is our Head if we as members of 
His body cling to Him in living faith and in ardent love. 
Seeing our Head conquer death, hell and Satan, and 
trample under foot these terrible enemies of mankind, we 
are so far from losing courage that we rather triumph 
together with our Head and rejoice in the victory. Not 
for Himself, but for us, has He conquered our enemies. 
The victory is ours; consequently the triumph is ours. 
When a hero defeats and destroys the enemies of the 
kingdom, the victory and triumph belong to the whole 
kingdom; the humblest inhabitant of the kingdom re- 
joices, for he also reaps the benefits as well as the con- 



145 

queror himself. For this reason Christians rejoice with 
Christ in His glorious Resurrection. 

Now let the heavens be joyful: 

Let earth her song begin: 

Let all the world keep triumph. 

And all that is therein: 

In grateful exultation 

Their notes let all things blend, 

For Christ the Lord hath risen, 

Our joy that hath no end. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Christ died for all. that they which live should not 
henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died 
for them, and rose again. 2 Cor. 5: 15. Unto you first God, 
having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in 
turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Acts 
3: 26. Purge out therefore the old leaven: that ye may be 
a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5: 7. 

As the foundation of our hope of eternal life lies 
in the resurrection of Christ, so the foundation and 
cause of our quickening into a new life lies therein. 
How can we hope to triumph with Him over sin, death 
and grave, devil and hell, if we. of our own free will, 
continue to be the slaves of sin, devil and death? How 
can we celebrate the eternal Easter-joy with our glori- 
fied Easter-lamb if we do not purge out the ''old leaven?" 
The old leaven, our flesh and blood, sin and our evil 
nature, can not inherit the kingdom of God. He who 
has conquered our enemies without, can also conquer 
them within. He who died and rose again for us can 
and will bestow upon us sufficient power to die from sin 
and to live unto Him, to arise with Him. to purge out 
all leaven of malice and wickedness, and to become "a 
new lump." full of sincerity and truth. 

Our hearts be pure from evil, 
That vre may see aright 
The Lord in rays eternal 
Of Resurrection's light; 



146 

And listening to His accents, 
May hear, so calm and plain, 
His own All hail! — and hearing, 
May raise the victor strain. 



THURSDAY AFTER EASTER. 

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, 
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away 
the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they 
looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away. Mark 
16: 2. 3. 4. 

The women had risen "very early," that they might 
seek Him without fear and loss of time. Neither the 
guard, nor the large stone, which they could not roll 
away, nor the seal, which the Pharisees had put upon it, 
nor any other anxiety could deter their ardent love. Oh, 
when love seeks, it always finds, for it "believeth all 
things, hopeth all things, endureth all things/' that it 
may reach the goal. Love says, "I must find Him ; I 
must have Him, even though there were a thousand 
stones, yea, mountains, in the way." And where God 
sees such earnestness in love, He removes the stones 
that we ourselves cannot lift, and casts into the sea the 
mountains that we ourselves cannot cross. Although 
you find great stones on your way, and many hindrances 
in your course, as the women at the sepulchre, yet if 
you do' not find Christ at once, wait longingly, arise 
early and do not give up until you have surely found 
Him. You may each day have an Easter-morning, an 
Easter-joy, if you each morning arise early and seek 
as longingly, wait as untiringly, and yearn as intensely 
and ardently for the risen Savior, as did Mary. "He 
that seeketh shall find." 

He lives to silence all my fears, 
He lives to wipe away my tears, 
He lives to calm my troubled heart, 
He lives all blessings to impart. 



147 

FRIDAY AFTER EASTER. 



And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise 
up us by his own power. 1 Cor. 6: 14. And if Christ be in 
you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life 
because of righteous/iess. But if the Spirit of him that 
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised 
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal 
bodies by his Spirit that.dwelleth in you. Rom. 8: 10. 11. 

You believe that Christ is risen from the dead ; you 
believe that you also shall arise ; but do you have the 
Spirit that raised up Jesus? Do you have the testi- 
mony of the Spirit of Christ to the fact that you are 
quickened and raised up from the grave of sin? Is 
the risen Christ in you? Has He quickened, animated 
and inspired you? Does your spirit live because of 
His righteousness? If so, then let your body die: you 
shall rise, nevertheless, as Christ arose. But to be- 
lieve on Christ, on. His resurrection and our resurrec- 
tion, without having the Spirit that raised Jesus from 
the dead, is hopeless. To comfort ourselves with the 
coming Resurrection and yet to be dead, without that 
Spirit which alone can quicken us and make us partak- 
ers of the first resurrection in the life in Christ, is a 
self-delusion from which we, the sooner the better, 
should suffer ourselves to be healed. If, on the other 
hand, Christ be in us (and we know that He is in us 
by the Spirit He has given us, by the unction and the 
incomparable and incomprehensible peace, by the love of 
God which is shed abroad in our hearts), and if we are 
truly quickened and alive in Christ, living Christians, 
who walk aright, the Lord will no more suffer us to 
remain in the grave than He suffered Himself to remain 
there. Where the Head is, there must also the living 
members be. 

He lives, and grants me daily breath; 
He lives, and I shall conquer death; 
He lives, my mansion to prepare; 
He lives, to bring me safely there. 



148 

SATURDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead 
our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in 
every good work to do his will. Heb. 13: 20. 21. As Christ 
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even 
so we also should walk in newness of life- Rom. 6: 4. 

Why did God permit the Shepherd to be slain? 
Why did He raise Him up again r Only for the sake of 
the sheep. The Father loves the scattered sheep and could 
not let them pursue the wrong paths. Therefore He 
raised up again the Shepherd and gave the sheep back 
to Him. Are the sheep nevertheless to be lost ? Will 
He not for the sake of the quickened Shepherd also en- 
deavor to quicken the sheep and tt> give them new life, 
that the Shepherd and the flock may be one and to- 
gether enter the eternal sheep fold? We should trust in 
the same power and walk in the same power, and lead 
a new life by the same power by which Jesus was raised 
from the dead. Such power is ours if we only use it 
and do not undertake to build on our power or pur- 
posely desire to become powerless that we may remain 
in the death of sin. Look to your great Shepherd. He 
was bruised, but He lives again, lives forever and shall 
die no more. The linen clothes and the napkin that 
were tied and wound about Him in death, He has loos- 
ened and buried in the grave (John 20: 6. 7). He went 
forth free. Now nothing on earth binds Him except 
His love to us. Thus, dear soul, should you also arise 
and break the fetters by which you are chained to the 
earth, the world and sin. Let them lie in the grave of 
this world, and follow your Shepherd in His ascension 
to the heavenly places whereunto He has quickened 
you. 

Jesus lives! Henceforth, is death 
But the gate of life immortal; 
This shall calm my trembling breath, 
When I pass its gloomy portal. 
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense, 
"Lord, Thou art my confidence!" 



149 

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and 
your joy no man taketh from you. John 16: 22. There when 

the disciples were assembled came Jesus, and stood in 

the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And 
when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and 
his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the 
Lord. John 20: 19. 20. Blessed are they that have not 
seen, and yet have believed, v. 29. 

The disciples were glad to see Jesus again, as the 
wise men from the East were glad once more to see 
the star which they had lost sight of while visiting 
Herod. To this day no man has taken their joy from 
them. Who shall now take it from them? He who 
knows this joy loathes all other joys which do not pro- 
ceed from it or lead to it. Have you been made a partak- 
er of that joy which consists in knowing the living 
Jesus risen in you — that He dwells in you? Have 
you ever been sad and miserable because you did not 
possess Jesus, or because you had lost Him? Have 
you ever, like the disciples, gathered yourself in the room 
of your heart, to wait for the Lord and to be made a 
partaker of Him? Then He must already have entered 
your heart, or He will soon come to visit you. Only have 
patience, and you shall know no joy like the joy of 
possessing Him. True, you cannot here taste the joy 
of seeing as the disciples saw Him : but that will not 
in the least impair the true and far greater joy of pos- 
sessing Him and of tasting His nearness. The fact that 
you do not see Him and yet believe, and through faith 
have Him dwelling in your heart, will enhance your joy, 
and so far from causing you any disadvantage, will bring 
you all the greater bliss. 

Jesus, our only joy be Thou! 
As Thou our prize wilt be; 
Jesus, be Thou our glory now, 
And through eternity. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will 
redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plague; 



i5o 

grave, I will be thy destruction. Hos. 13: 14. It 
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 
Gen. 3: 15. I am the resurrection, and the life: he that 
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. 
John 11: 25. 

Let him who fears death and the grave hasten to 
Christ, who stands so close at hand and cries, ''Come, 

1 will ransom thee from the power of the grave ; I will 
redeem thee from death." He who does not believe Him 
who fearlessly says to death, "I will be thy plague," and 
to the grave, "I will be thy destruction ;" who says, 
"Whosoever believeth in me shall never die; I am the 
life; he that believeth in me, unto him will I give eter- 
nal life;" who "through death destroyed him that had 
the power of death, that is the devil ; and delivered them 
who through fear of death were all their life subject to 
bondage" (Heb. 2: 14. 15) ; he who would rather be in 
fear of death and the grave and like a slave serve the 
miserable lusts of the flesh, his evil inclinations, and en- 
joy the short time of this corruptible life ; he who does 
not believe Christ, I say; must desire his own destruc- 
tion, his eternal ruin more than life and salvation ; he 
must be terribly blinded by the god of this world, so 
that he does not see, and will not see, the clear light 
that shines forth in the Resurrection of Christ and in- 
vites us to the most blessed triumph over death and 
the grave, over sin and the devil. Even though the 
grave regard us as its own, even though death govern 
us as its slaves, yet they must let us pass free and 
untouched if we only will. We can find a "plague" 
and "destruction" for them by which they must perish. 
Why do you fear death? Because you love the sting of 
death which is sin. Rather take the medicine which is 
a plague to death and a destruction to the grave, which 
kills death in you ; rather take Chrhist, and you shall 
live and be saved. 

He lives to silence all my fears, 
He lives to wipe away my tears, 
He lives to calm my troubled heart, 
He lives, all blessings to impart. 



i5i 

TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



The angel said, Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter. 

In Galiilee you shall see him. Mark 16: 7. The 

Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. Luke 
24: 34. 

The most remarkable fact in the narrative concern- 
ing the resurrection of the Lord is, as the evangelists 
more especially note, that He first revealed Himself to 
the greatest sinners, namely, Magdalene and Peter. Be- 
loved, this is not written without a definite purpose in 
the story of Jesus. "Did He appear to Simon, first 
and particularly to him?" you ask in wonder. No one 
had caused Him more sadness than Peter. No one 
denied Him more shamefully. No one acted so coward- 
ly and faithlessly toward Him in spite of all the warn- 
ings and admonitions the Lord had given him. Very 
true ; he did not deserve it ; his fall was too great. 
But behold, Peter "wept bitterly." No one felt his 
weakness and unfaithfulness more deeply than he. No 
one was so> afraid. No one waited so painfully and 
with such longing as he. How he hastened together 
with John to get to the sepulchre first when he heard 
the alarming news of the Lord's missing body ! How 
he ran first into the sepulchre ! Behold, all this the 
Savior saw and knew. He does not only see your fall, 
your denial, and your unfaithfulness, but also your 
fears, your sorrow, and your earnest desire to be par- 
doned, comforted and received by Him again. Oh, be 
of good courage, ye hearts who are deeply bowed down 
and broken because of your sins ! When the Savior visits 
and comforts His own, He first visits and comforts you. 
For He knows that you have more need than others. 

Forgiveness, peace, joy, righteousness, 

On earth and there in heaven — 

These are the Easter-spoils that bless 

The hearts to Jesus given. 

So we, His heirs, wait patiently, 

Until our bodies fashioned be 

Like His own glorious body. 



152 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping, say- 
ing, They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where 
they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she 
turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew 
not that it was Jesus. John 20: 11 — 14. 

He who seeks as Mary sought will find as Mary 
found. Ye who seek and do not find the Lord who above 
all else is worthy of seeking, learn a lesson here from 
the seeking Mary. The art is easy; everyone can learn 
it, and it brings the greatest gain. Those who weep for 
Him shall find Him. This is proven by this in- 
stance and it will always prove true. Tears that well 
up from the heart and are shed for His sake, never 
fail of their purpose. For they are unquestionable tes- 
timony to the fact that Jesus is at the heart knocking; 
otherwise our heart would not be concerned about Him. 
A longing for Jesus can be awakened in our heart by 
no one but by Himself. He who awakens our heart 
must be near our heart. However, as was the case 
with Mary 7 , you do not always know Him before He 
calls you by name. He who with such heartfelt sorrow 
regrets the loss of the Lord ; mourns Him as honestly ; 
seeks Him as earnestly ; looks around for Him as long- 
ingly as this loving soul, will soon find Him. Yes, 
dear soul, before you are done weeping; before you 
turn around, He stands there and greets you as He 
alone can greet you. Such a greeting surely deserves 
all the trouble your seeking may have caused you. 

O hope of every contrite heart, 
O joy of all the meek! 
To those who fall, how kind Thou art, 
How good to those who seek. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom 
seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, 
saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me 



153 

where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus 
saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto 
him, Rabboni: which is to say, Master. John 20: 15. 16. 

Indeed, He has "borne" Himself hence. He has raised 
Himself from the grave. Where has He laid Him- 
self? Mary, in your heart. For he who seeks Him as 
you have done, already possesses Him. You will fetch 
Him from afar, and He stands before you. You do not 
recognize Him, and yet you love Him so unutterably. 
What a question is this, "Where hast thou laid Him?" 
My heart, ask Him that question often when He has 
withdrawn Himself from thee. But ask thyself also 
this question when you have laid Him away, when you 
have forsaken Him. For it is often the heart itself 
that takes Him away ; then He will let you seek a long 
time. If, however, we do not tire, then He tires. He 
cannot let us go so long a time, seeking Him in sor- 
row. He comes and calls us by name. A word from 
Him, even His voice, will make us just as happy as 
the word, "Mary," made her happy. How much was 
not this word to her soul ! He who understands the 
language of love does not need many words nor protesta- 
tions to believe in love. When once He shall meet me, 
and call me by name, as He did Mary, I shall be blessed 
through all eternity. In order that we may once be 
called by name by Him, we are willing to seek and love 
Him, and continue to be His until He shall come and 
call His own sheep by name. (John io: 3). 

When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, 
Has gathered thick and thundered loud, 
He near my soul has always stood, 
His loving kindness, oh, how good! 

Often I feel my sinful heart 
Prone from my Jesus to depart; 
But though I have Him oft forgot, 
His loving kindness changes not. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren 
at once. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one 
born out of due time- 1 Cor. 15: 6. 8. 



154 

The Savior was seen not only by the chosen apos- 
tles and foreordained witnesses of His resurrection, 
but by all who loved His manifestation and would 
make sure of His life and His grace ; who waited for 
Him, and put all their trust in Him. This must inspire 
you with the confidence that He most assuredly will 
not disappoint you any more than them, if you seek 
Him earnestly. The eyes of the Lord are upon the 
earth and look into all hearts now as then. If at that 
time He saw and found the hearts of the five hundred 
brethren who longed for Him ; if He could not let them 
languish without consolation, He now also sees you and 
finds you, if you long for Him. He will assuredly grant 
you the comfort, joy and strength which you need for 
your salvation. If there were five thousand such hearts 
in the land, it would be all the dearer to Him to visit 
and gladden them all. He does not overlook a single 
one, not even you. 

Be Thou our present joy, O Lord, 
Who will be ever our reward: 
And as the countless ages flee, 
May all our glory be in Thee. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

I know that my redeemer liveth. And though after my 
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see 
God. Job 19: 25. 26. The Lord Jesus Christ shall change 
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glo- 
rious body. Phil. 3: 20. 21 

Even Job knew that the Redeemer lives. He looked 
with a lively hope into the future, looked beyond death 
and the grave into a life in which, after the reunion of 
soul and body, we shall appear before the face of God. 
With what confidence this champion of faith spoke, 
even before God had revealed Himself on Sinai and 
before the light had shone forth on Golgotha! Why 
do we Christians tremble at the separation of body and 
soul? For death is nothing but a separation, after 
which soul and body shall be eternally and gloriously 



i55 

reunited. The seed of the body must fall into the earth, 
that it may arise glorious, living, and forever immortal. 
The glorified body of Christ is a. beautiful type, ac- 
cording to which He will transfigure and glorify our 
bodies. Who should not willingly put off the defiled 
garment of the flesh to be clothed upon with a new, 
glorious, and Christ-like body? 

I know that my Redeemer lives! 
What comfort this sweet sentence gives! 
He lives, He lives, who once was dead, 
He lives, my everlasting Head. 

He lives to bless me with His love, 
He lives to plead for me above, 
He lives my hungry soul to feed, 
He lives to help in time of need. 



THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh 
me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside 
the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me 
in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Thy 

rod and thy staff they comfort me. Ps. 23: 1-4. 

Doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go after that 
which is lost? Luke 15: 4. 

If Jesus be your Shepherd, you must be His sheep. 
You must "walk in the green pastures" to which He leads 
you. His Word must be sweeter to you than honey 
and the honeycomb. You must remain in His flock and 
shun the goats of the wicked world. The green pas- 
tures that belong to this Shepherd are His Word in 
the Bible ; the precious pastures of His sheep are the 
communings with Him in the spirit. There also flow 
"the still waters" from which He gives His sheep to 
drink, the like of which is not found on earth (John 
7: 38). But the sheep must follow their Shepherd, if 
He is to lead them to these waters. The sheep must 
willingly feed in His green pastures, remain in Him, 
and commune with Him in child-like confidence. As 
soon as they leave Him and seek other pastures and 
other waters, they lose the taste for His paztures and 
His waters, stray from the flock and perish. But He 



156 

cannot let the lost perish forever. He goes after them. 
He follows after them in all their foolish ways, and 
does not only readily take them up when He finds 
them, but carries them as a mother carries her child, 
upon His shoulders. He rejoices as though He had 
found a great treasure. If they remain with Him, 
they lack no good thing. For the Shepherd is ex- 
ceedingly rich, and as charitable and benevolent as 
He is rich. He desires that His sheep shall have all 
that He Himself possesses. He often leads them on 
dark and uneven roads, yet these are right roads 
that lead to< the fold. Even though they pass through 
"the valley of the shadow of death," yet His shepherd- 
staff is their consolation and support, upon which they 
lean without fear. His rod and His staff are terrible 
to death and hell, but they are the standards of victory 
for His sheep. With it they put death and the devil 
to rout. The wolves flee when you grasp His rod and 
His "staff." You who are a sheep of Christ, do you 
know this "rod" and this "staff" ? Do you know the rod 
and the staff of your crucified Shepherd? It is beauti- 
ful, it is glorious, stained with His blood. For the Shep- 
herd died upon it for His sheep — for you. 

He leads me to the place 

Where heavenly pasture grows; 

Where living waters gently pass, 

And full salvation flows. 

While He affords His aid, 

I cannot yield to fear; 

Thouh I should walk through death's dark shade, 

My Shepherd's with me there. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Thou art fairer than the children of men. — ■ Thou 

liftest me up from the gates of death: that I may shew forth 
all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will 
rejoice in thy salvation. Ps. 45: 2; 9: 13. 14. 

Where do I find the most beautiful and striking 
picture of my Savior, that my soul may rejoice there- 
in? I know of none more attractive than that which 
the Prophet Isaiah has drawn (Is. 53: 2. 3), where he 



i57 

says, "He hath no form nor comeliness ; and when we 
shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire 
Him. He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." 
This sketch by the prophet was graphically and truly 
filled out and completed on Golgotha. Precisely where 
He had no' "form nor comeliness" in the eyes of the 
world, where He was most despised and utterly 
worthless, He is most beautiful. For this reason 
He wins the prize above all others. If we pass 
through heaven and earth and seek in all their 
corners, we shall find nothing more beautiful than 
Christ, who bled and died for us on the cross of 
Golgotha. There He put off His divine and heav- 
enly beauty and is completely covered with deepest 
disgrace, with cross and death. When a contrite heart 
intently regards Jesus on the cross, it finds more pleas- 
ure in Him there than on Mount Tabor ; the heart would 
rather build a tabernacle on Golgotha than on Mount 
Tabor, because it can never see enough of His beauty 
as He hangs upon the tree. Nowhere in this life is the 
heart so well satisfied as at the cross ; for there alone 
it finds comfort, salvation, power and life. There it finds 
all. His death and dishonor have forced open the 
gates of death, that otherwise through all eternity would 
have held us captive. He has led us forth and lifted us 
from death's dungeon ; He has placed us "in the gates 
of the daughter of Zion," the new Jerusalem. We 
can never sufficiently praise Him for His benefits ; He 
has redeemed us, justified, sanctified and glorified us. 
Eternities are scarcely long enough for the enjoyment 
of His mercies, to say nothing of telling them. From 
eternity to eternity we shall have new material for 
His praise, and of His glory there shall be no end. 

Let every kingdom, every tribe, 
On this terrestrial ball, 
To Him all majesty ascribe, 
And crown Him Lord of all. 

O that with yonder sacred throng 
We at His feet may fall; 
We'll join the everlasting song 
And crown Him Lord of all. 






158 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Ps. 106: 
2. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is 
Jehova, art the most high over all the earth. Ps. 83: 18. 

Unutterable are God's acts to the world and to His 
children. He who considers God's works by the light 
of the Holy Spirit, has delight in them; his heart re- 
joices and is blessed. Wherever we turn, we see Him ; 
we see His hand, which produces all things : we must 
admire and worship. All His works are pure effects 
of His unspeakable love to man. But among all God's 
works there is none that appears to us more beautiful 
and glorious than our redemption ; His love to sinners ; 
His open bosom ; His arms stretching forth day and 
night to a rebellious people; this faithfulness, long- 
suffering, patience and kindness with which He receives 
sinners ; raises up the fallen ; goes after the lost ; car- 
ries the weak, and strengthens the faint. Who can 
describe, all the beauty to be found in Christ ? Experi- 
ence it, O heart ! Place yourself beneath the cross of 
Christ and look your fill at His love and beauty. Then 
surely He will receive praise and adoration from you 
also for all that you have seen and heard, enjoyed or 
anticipated. May Jesus forever be your all in all; the 
highest, the best, the most beautiful, and the dearest 
in the whole world. 

Fair are the meadows, 

Fairer the woodlands, 

Robed in flowers of blooming spring; 

Jesus is fairer, 

Jesus is purer; 

He makes our sorrowing spirit sing. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the 
man that trusteth in him. Ps. 34: 8. The Lord is merciful 
and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Ps. 
103: 8. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O 
Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 
Ps. 86: 8. 



159 

O God of goodness ! Thou who hath tasted so 
"good" to the pious fathers in the tabernacle made with 
hands and destined to be broken down, how good Thou 
wilt taste to them who serve Thee in Thy new sanc- 
tuary, in spirit and in truth ; who serve Thee in the 
temple not made with stones, but which Thou hast 
erected in our hearts by electing us as Thine eternal 
abode, by no longer revealing Thy glory in a cloud, 
but, without cover, in every soul consecrated to Thee 
in faith and love ! It is Thy goodness alone that draw- 
eth us to Thee and fixeth our souls on Thee. Other- 
wise we would lack courage. How would sinners such 
as we dare to draw near to Thee, near to the holiness 
and glory of God, if Thy goodness, as a magnet, did not 
draw us so invitingly unto itself? Everything in us 
would forbid us to come to Thee : our corrupt and 
sinful nature would frighten us from so doing. But 
Thy love and goodness overcometh all and causeth 
us to forget whom we are ; employeth our thoughts 
with Thee only, and filleth our hearts and minds so 
completely, that we can no longer remain away ; we 
are too much blessed in praising and loving Thee to 
resist Thy drawing love or to wound that love which 
can not be happv without us. 

Still let Thy love point out my way; 

How wondrous things Thy love hath wrought! 

Still lead me, lest I go astray; 

Direct my work, inspire my thought; 

And if I fall, soon may I hear 

Thy voice, and know that love is near. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Thou art my Son; this day (from eternity) have I begot- 
ten thee. Ps. 2: 7. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and 
ye perish from the way. Ps. 2: 12. The Father loveth the 
Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3: 35. 
But unto the Son God saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever 
and ever. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the 
foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works 
of thine hands. — — — He upholdeth all things by the 
word of his power. Heb. 1: 8 — 10; 1: 3. 



i6o 

A Christian can not think nor believe too highly of 
Christ. God and Christ must to him be names that 
mean the same. What we read of God in the Bible, 
what we see of Him in nature, what we anticipate of 
Him, and what we need from Him in our heart: it all 
concerns the Son as well as the Father. They are one, 
as Christ Himself has said (John 10: 30). Never think, 
speak or believe otherwise of Christ than of the Fa- 
ther. Do not separate them. They are forever insep- 
arable. Worship the Son, otherwise you do not wor- 
ship the Father ; for the Father will be worshipped in 
the Son and with the Son only. If you think of Jesus 
without thinking of the Father, or if you separate the 
Divinity from the Son, then you have made Divinity 
unapproachable to you — then you have no God (2 John 
v. 9). Christ has laid the foundation of heaven and 
earth, and He upholds them by His omnipotence. "Kiss 
the Son ;" that is, honor Him, worship Him as your God 
and Lord. Love Him as your Savior and Rescuer, lest 
He as the Judge become angry with you, and you 
fall into His hands when He comes to judge the world 
with fire. 

To the great One in Three 

Eternal praises be, 

Hence evermore! 

His sovereign majesty- 
May we in glory see, 

And to eternity 

Love and adore. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



All are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 

1 Cor. 3: 22. 23. He that spared not his own Son, but 
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also 
freely give us all things? Rom. 8: 32. Whereby are given 
unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by 
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having 
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, 

2 Pet, 1: 4. 

Beloved, how rich we may be in Christ upon the 
slight condition that we flee from that which will soon 
leave us anyway, namely, "the corruption" of the world. 



i6i 

All things ; all that God is and has ; all that heaven 
and eternity contain, are yours. You shall possess and 
enjoy it all if you sever your heart completely from the 
world and deny its sensual pleasures. For both worlds, 
heaven and earth, God's kingdom and the kingdom of 
this world, Christ and Belial, cannot remain side by 
side in your heart. If you desire to have all that God 
offers you in Christ, you must let go of all that the 
flesh, the world, and Satan offer you; they only offer; 
they give not what they offer, but they rob you of all 
before you have really grasped the offer — before you 
have enjoyed it. But God makes you through Christ a 
partaker of His nature, His righteousness and holiness, 
salvation and glory. You shall be holy and blessed as 
He is holy and blessed ; you shall reign with Him and 
rejoice with Him forever in heaven. Who can com- 
prehend such love? Why does not all else become 
loathsome to us but God and His Word, in which such 
promises are held out to us? Who can believe in these 
promises and yet continue to conform himself to the 
world? continue to desire the enjoyment of the world? 
continue to cling with the heart to- aught else but the 
greatest of all, which is his when he grasps it in faith 
and holds it fast with all his heart? Though no other 
word in the Scriptures could awaken us and convert 
us, this one word "all" ought to win us over to Christ 
and forever drive the world, the flesh and the devil 
out of our hearts and thougths. 

In the faith, O make me steadfast; 
Let not Satan, death or shame 
Of my confidence deprive me; 
Lord, my refuge is Thy name. 
When the flesh inclines to ill, 
Let Thy Word prove stronger still. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath un # to thy 
judgments at all times. My soul fainteth for thy salva- 
tion. Ps. 119: 20. 21. Lord, thou hast heard the desire 
of the humble. Ps. 10: 17. We shall be like him; for we 



1 62 

shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this 
hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. 1 John 
3: 2. 3. 

It is impossible and unnatural for him who has tasted 
the goodness of the Lord, not to long for Him. When 
we know Jesus, should we tong less for Him than did 
the soul of David breaking ''for the longing" after Jeho- 
vah? Should the God of the New Telstament, the 
bleeding, suffering and dying Savior, the good Shep- 
herd, the Lamb, the Bridegroom, draw us less power- 
fully to Himself? Should not He rather kindle more 
ardent longing than did the thundering and^ lightening 
Jehovah of the old covenant? Should our love be 
colder to Him who has loved us unto death and whom 
we see dying upon the cross because of love? No: he 
who knows Jesus, burns with longing for Him day and 
night ; he comforts himself with His will only and with 
the lively hope of seeing Him some day, and all the 
more glorious, the longer he must remain a pilgrim on 
earth. Beloved, how is it with your soul? Do you 
long for Jesus? Or would you be terror-stricken if 
you should see Him to-day? Let him who would have 
a joyful and lively hope of seeing Jesus, purify him- 
self from all defilement of the world, from selfishness 
and vanity ; let him purify himself even as God is 
pure. For. the unclean shall not see God and Christ. 

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower, 
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown; 
Thee will I love with all my power, 
In all my work and Thee alone ;_ 
Thee will I love, till the pure fire 
Fill my soul with chaste desire. 



THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast 
in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: 
for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Is. 38: 17. 
I have* blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, 
and, as a cloud, thy suis: return unto me; for I have re- 
deemed thee. Is. 44: 22. 



163 

Let him who fears on account of his sins, regard 
his fear as a pledge that the Lord and His salvation 
are near; for the Lord is in such fear. He calls it 
forth, and He sustains it. Otherwise we should never 
fear on account of our sins in this world. Now He who 
makes you fear will also make you happy and blessed ; 
for, as a wise and good physician, He wounds only that 
He may heal ; He cuts into the wound that He may 
make you healthy and clean. He first sends discon- 
solateness or the want of comfort to your heart, that 
He may afterward send consolation, that He may find an 
entrance. But when the disconsolate and sorrowful soul 
implores Him, trusts in Him, He comes with conso- 
lation and shows His kind countenance ; before Him 
and the words of His grace, with which He appears 
to the tearful eyes of the soul, vanish sins, accusation 
of conscience, terror of judgment, as the mist before 
the sun, and as clouds chased by the wind. Then the 
sky of the soul becomes clear; the sun smiles into your 
heart; He lays songs of praise upon your lips, so* that 
you, no less than others whom He has saved, give Him 
the testimony, "He has in love to my soul delivered 
it from the pit of corruption." Only remain in this 
grace and keep it. As much as it causes you joy, so 
faithfully use it and keep it ; otherwise the sin which 
God has put behind His back, will come again and take 
possession of you with sevenfold power. 

Though great our sins and sore our woes, 

His grace much more aboundeth; 

His helping love no limit knows, 

Our utmost need it soundeth. 

Our kind and faithul Shepherd, He, 

Who shall at last set Israel free 

From all their sin and sorrow. 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Rev. 13: 
10. Be followers of them who through faith and patience 
inherit the promises. Heb. 6: 12. Knowing this, that 
the trying of your faith worketh patience; but let pa- 
tience have her perfect work. Jas. 1: 3. 4. 



164 

When gold is cast into the fire, it can be seen 
whether it is gold or only slag, false splendor and glitter. 
You say that you have faith? Has your faith been 
tried ? Has it been in the fire of tribulation ? Have you 
"patience" also? Faith without patience is not a faith 
pleasing to God. Therefore St. Paul says, "All men 
have not faith" (2 Thes. 3: 2). Why? Patience is 
something seldom found. You can easily memorize 
the language of faith and repeat the words fluently ; 
but the patience of true faith often lags behind on the 
mountain-side, when the trail is uneven and crooked. 
Some give evidence of patience in the beginning; but 
they do not endure ; their patience does not bring forth 
any perfect work ; it stands on such weak legs because 
it does not rely on the Man of Patience, who alone is 
able to sustain it. Such a person has built his house 
on sand and babbling words from which no power ever 
enters the heart. When the floods and the storms of temp- 
tation come, the straw-shed of weak faith tumbles down, 
or the fire of tribulation consumes it. Such a result 
does not require persecutions, fire and sword, in which 
trials the first Christians held their ground so glori- 
ously. All that is necessary, is that illness or other 
bodily need befall ; no patience is found in such a 
chattering Christian even though you search for it with 
a lantern. If a person, when death is near, be terror- 
stricken, he endures that in a way ; but if the danger 
of death be past, there is no more faith and patience. 
Let him who feels that he is in such a condition, pray 
that his faith be increased; let him whose faith has not 
yet been tried, take heed, lest he fall. 

When we seek- relief 

From a long felt grief; 

When temptations come alluring, 

Make us patient and enduring; 

Show us that bright shore 

Where we weep no more. 



i65 



TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none 
upon earth that I desire beside thee. Ps. 73: 25. I count 
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of 
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss 
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may 
win Christ. Phil. 3: 8. . 

Asaph and St. Paul, and all who truly know Jesus, 
find nothing more desirable than Him. Even here on 
earth, walking by faith, they find more in Jesus than 
heaven and earth can offer. What then, will they not find 
in Him, and how will they not enjoy Him in heaven 
where they shall see Him as He is, and be like Him ! 
But these heroes of faith have few followers nowadays. 
Most people speak in the opposite manner and say, as 
they think : "If I only have the world and its treasures ; 
if I only can satisfy the desires of the flesh; if I only 
possess honor and fame among men, what do I care 
about Jesus?" Others, who do' not go quite as far, 
think : ''If only I can get to heaven some day, what do 
I care about the knowledge of Christ Jesus?" Oh, ye 
children of men, ye desire too little ; ye may possess in- 
finitely more than all the possessions of earth and human- 
ity, yea, of heaven itself. Jesus Christ will bestow 
Himself upon you: in Him ye have more than a thou- 
sand worlds, more than the heaven of heavens. To 
know Him., and in Him the Father, is life eternal. 
"The knowledge of Christ Jesus" is more than all 
earthly riches ; more blessed than all the pleasures of the 
flesh ; more glorious than all honor and fame among 
men. Without Him, and beside Him, everything is 
nothing; heaven itself is no longer heaven, but a des- 
ert and a hell. Without Him, and beside Him, every- 
thing is loathsome and less than nothing; as Paul says 
that all else is "loss" and "dung." Therefore, be not 
blinded by earthly glitter, by vainglory. He that is 
in possession of Christ, is in possession of everything; 
he possesses infinitely more than all wealth without 
Christ. He who does not possess Chris/t, has Him 
against himself; he who has Christ for an opponent, 



i66 

has never tasted real joy. Nor is this all: if you do not 
recognize Christ Jesus as your Lord ; if you do not 
possess Him as your Redeemer and Savior; if He is 
not your all in all, He is your Judge ; and since you 
have rejected Him and given other things the pref- 
erence, He will reject you. What can the world with 
all its pleasures and glory help you? What can money 
and property, fame and honor among men profit you 
before His judgment seat? What can deliver you from 
"the wrath to come ?" The fact remains : There is not 
only no higher gain than Christ, but all gain is loss 
and dung if we do not possess Christ. He that pos- 
sesses Him has all things in abundance. 

My hope, my all, my Savior Thou! 
To Thee, O Lord, my soul I bow. 
I seek the bliss Thy wounds impart, 
I long to find Thee in my heart. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest 
not: and in the night season, and am not silent. Ps. 22: 
2. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent 
to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them 
that go down into the pit. Ps. 28: 1. My soul is also 
sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? Ps. 6: 3. How 
long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? forever? how long wilt 
thou hide thy face from me? Ps. 13: 1. 

Be not offended with your gracious God when He 
deals with you as with His dearest friends. He often 
permits them to cry long without giving a sign that He 
hears them, so that they are near to despair and believe 
that they are, as it were, already in hell. Do not take 
offence when you receive no answer to all your prayers ; 
when you must cry, "Oh, how long?" when it seems 
to you that the Lord has forgotten you and that 
He does not heed your supplications. All of God's 
beloved have experienced the same before you. No 
answer to your ardent prayers is, nevertheless, an answer, 
and it reads thus: Wait; be silent; suffer; strive and 
hope! At last you shall be able to confess with David, 
who complained even more than you ; "But I have 



167 

trusted in Thy mercy ; my heart shall rejoice in Thy sal- 
vation. I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath 
dealt bountifully with me" (Ps. 13: 5. 6). Profound as 
is the silence of the Lord now causing you sorrow, 
so distinctly and comfortingly will Lie speak to you. 
As full as your heart now is of complaining, so full 
will your mouth be of gladness and rejoicing when the 
Lord sees fit to answer you 

Who fully yields to God's direction, 

And puts in Him his confidence, 

Has found deliverance and protection, 

A rock of refuge and defence. 

Who trusts in heaven unshaken stands; 

He builds not on the shifting sands. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me 
from all my fears. Ps. 34: 4. For he shall deliver the 
needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath 
no helper. Ps. 72: 12. 

Ask the ancients, ask all who have ever been in 
tribulation and temptation, in need and anxiety, if the 
Lord has not delivered, comforted and blessed them 
when they put all their trust in Him, and when they 
cried perseveringly unto Him. What does David, the 
tried and afflicted soldier of God, say? Ask him. He 
answers through His psalms and assures you that the 
Lord is faithful, merciful and gracious ; that He hears 
and grants the prayers and supplications of the poor 
and forsaken, the tempted and the afflicted, no matter 
what their affliction may be ; that He delivers and 
strengthens them ; in short, that one can not get into any 
situation, nor fall into any depth, from which the hand 
of the Lord, the mighty Benefactor, can not and will 
not rescue him. Only the prince of darkness or short- 
sighted reason cause mists to appear before your eyes ; 
your stormy heart raises clouds of dust that blind your 
sight so that you can not see the saving hand which the 
Lord stretches out to you. Your fears and half-hearted 
will 'hinder you from grasping His hand and holding 



i68 

it fast. But if you do grasp it without heeding Satan, 
your mistrusting thoughts and all the fancies and ob- 
jections of unbelief, O how soon and gloriously you 
will be delivered and how joyously you then shall praise 
the Lord! 

Think not, since thou some cross art bearing, 
That God hath turned from thee away; 
Or that for those alone He's caring, 
Whom fortune favors every day. 
Time, passing by on restless wings, 
To each and all great changes brings. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment. Ps. 
104: 2. The light dwelleth with him. Dan. 2: 22. For God, 
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath 
shmed in our hearts. 2 Cor. 4: 6 That was the true light, 
which lightet.h every man that cbmeth in|to the world. 
John 1: 9. 

Only the Creator of light, from whom afl light pro- 
ceeds, because He is Himself pure light, can shed light 
in our soul, when it is dark within us. Spiritually we 
are the same as the world would be without the sun, 
without light. If the Sun of righteousness, Christ, 
does not rise in us, there is only darkness, death and 
coldness, unfruitfulnes and dislike of all good, in us. 
As the physical sun must rise and give light each day 
if day shall not be buried in eternal night, so Christ, 
the Morning Star, must each morning anew appear 
and give us light throughout the day; and as there 
no longer must be night in the Christian — for we 
are the children of the day, the night is past — He must 
by night and by day be our Sun, our Light, and our 
Life. Ask yourself every morning, if the Morning Star 
has shined forth in your heart. Ask yourself every 
night if also the night is light, if the Lord is your Light, 
or if you walk in the shadow of death as the children of 
the night. 

O Christ, our true and only light, 
Illumine those who sit in night; 
Let those afar now hear Thy voice, 
And in Thy fold with us rejoice. 



169 

Fill with the radiance of Thy grace 
The souls now lost in error's maze; 
And all, O Lord, whose secret minds, 
(Some dark delusion hurts and blinds. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth 
in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: 
for without me ye can do nothing. John 15: 5. My well- 
beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. — — — 
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I 
have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should 
bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Is. 5: 1-4. 

O most holy mystery of the soul's closest union with 
Christ, its head ! Yes, it is certainly true : What more 
couldst Thou have done to> Thy vineyard? Thou in us, 
and we in Thee. Couldst Thou come nearer to us? 
Shouldst Thou not expect divine fruits on the branches, 
when the vine is divine? Must Thou not become angry 
when Thou, notwithstanding all that Thou hast done and 
doest in us, yet canst not find grapes, no> perfect fruits, 
but only wild grapes in us? Beloved, consider what 
manner of branches you are. Where are the grapes? 
(Gal. 5: 22 — 24). If you do not find these, you un- 
doubtedly lack the right connection, the right commun- 
ion with the vine : it is impossible that you are in Christ. 
But if you find wild grapes (Gal. 5: 19 — 21), or at 
least some of them in you, it is clear that you have 
never seen or known the yine ; for then you walk in the 
flesh and not in the Spirit ; in Belial, not in Christ. Oh, 
let us make use of His glorious grace. Is it not pure 
grace that Jesus is our vine ; unites us, as branches, to 
Himself, and bears fruit in us and with us which we 
may enjoy? If He, without being in us, or without 
permitting us to be in Him, demand fruits of us, then 
we were undoubtedly lost. But now we have no 
excuse if we do not remain in Him. 

In Him ever would I be abiding, 
In Him meat and drink and peace I have; 
In His gracious arms my place of hiding; 
Soul and body both His love will save. 



170 

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which 
thou shalt go. Ps. 32: 8. I taught Ephraim also to go (as 
a little child). Hos. 11: 3. Teach me thy way, O Lord, 
and lead me in a plain path. Lead me in thy truth, and 
teach me. For thy name's sake lead me and guide me. 
Ps. 27: 11; 25: 5; 31: 3. 

Who, without a guide, could find the way to the 
hidden and unknown Fatherland, which he had never 
seen? Our own guidance would lead us astray. The 
guidance of men is not altogether to be rejected, but we 
can not fully depend upon it. A wise, pious and expe- 
rienced servant of God can show you the way and guide 
you, but if you remain with him, you do not come to 
the Lord; and if, notwithstanding all the counsel and 
guidance of good men, you do* not have the Lord Him- 
self as your leader and inward guide; if you do not 
hold Him fast and conscientiously follow Him, you 
cannot reach the goal. Besides, the Lord is so> good 
and gracious that He offers to you His guidance, and 
gives you the glorious promises (Ps. 32 : 8 ; Hos. 11: 
3), that He will teach you in the way which you shall 
go; wiH guide you with His eye; will take you by the 
hand and lead you so that you may walk securely. 
Will you not grasp this loving and steady hand? Will 
you not look into those eyes that so kindly would lead 
you? But how am I to understand the look of His 
eyes? you ask. He looks at you from within, not from 
without. If your eye be clear, honest and without guile ; 
if it see not double — if you willingly enter into your 
heart and learn to consult with God in prayer — you 
shall learn to understand His answer and His guidance; 
you shall feel His hand and experience that which He 
promises. His eye shall guide as effectively, and His 
hand shall lay hold of you as powerfully and lead you as 
a father leads, lifts and carries his child, without ever 
losing sight of it or letting it slip out of his hand. But 
this special guidance demands also a special faithfulness 
as to your inner life ; a watchful eye, a heart collected 
and ever turned to the Lord. Otherwise you overlook 



the guidance of His eyes and perceive not His leading 
hand. 

Meekly may my soul receive 

All Thy Spirit hath revealed. 

Thou hast spoken; — I believe, 

Though the prophecy were sealed. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, 
that he might be the Lord both of the dead and living. 
Rom. 14: 9. Always bearing about in the body the dying 
of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made 
manifest in our body. 2 Cor. 4: 10. 

May the sufferings, death and merits of Christ not 
only be in your mouth, but also in your heart. Let the 
crucified and risen One be your Lord. Do not only 
say ''Lord, Lord" to Him, but acknowledge Him as your 
Lord ; follow Him ; cling to Him with your whole 
heart; let Him rule and govern your heart, mind and 
conduct. He died for you that Lie might live for you. 
He sacrificed His life for you that you might sacrifice 
your life for Him and no more live unto yourself, but 
unto Him. This is called ''always bearing about in the 
body the dying of the Lord Jesus." It must be seen 
in conduct that Christ died and rose again for you. 
It must be apparent that you no longer belong to your- 
self, but that you belong to Jesus. That in no respect 
do you follow yourself and your own will, but only 
Jesus. Then His death and merits are revealed in you ; 
and you glorify your Savior in Spirit and in body. 

Saints rejoicing evermore, 
In the Lord Jehovah trust: 
Him in all His ways adore, 
Wise, and wonderful, and just. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



In my distress I called upon the Lord. Ps. 18: 6. 
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt 
quicken me again. I called upon the Lord in distress; the 
Lord answered me. Ps. 71: 20; 118: 5. 



172 

Whatever causes you anxiety and trouble, is sent 
you by the Lord for no other reason than to teach 
you to pray and believe — to call upon Him. Let 
every anxiety or distress be God's messenger to you 
who tells you: "It is now high time that you turn with 
all your heart to your Savior." If your sins cause 
you anxiety, let this anxiety be to you a sealed letter 
from heaven. Break the seal and open the letter. You 
can open it by constant prayer, and you shall read there- 
in, written with God's own finger, the words in Isaiah 
1 : 18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the 
Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as 
white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they 
shall be as wool." If it be a great affliction, it is a mem- 
orandum from the Lord saying to you, "Call upon me in 
the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 
glorify me" (Ps. 50: 15-). The Lord does not cause 
any human soul anxiety without reason ; but since men 
are not usually drawn to God by love, He uses the rod. 
He uses force, so to speak, to compel them to seek 
His face and receive His help. If the saints of the Old 
Testament could comfort themselves in their anxiety; 
if they could find the face of God, how much more 
ought not we do it, to whom the bosom of God is so 
wide open in Christ, who came to this world in behalf 
of those who were in distress and anxiety. He who 
does not cast out any one who comes to Him, Himself 
cries out to all and invites them kindlv, saying, "Come 
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will give you rest" (Mat. it: 28). 

In suffering, be Thy love my peace, 
In weakness be Thy love my power; 
And when the storms of life shall cease, 
Jesus, in that important hour, 
In death as life be Thou my guide, 
And save me, Who for me hast died! 



i73 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to 
all that call upon him in truth. Ps. 145: 18. Thou drewest 
near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear 
not. Lam. 3: 57. 

What can cheer the heart of him who is not glad- 
dened by the assurance that God, Christ Himself, is 
near when we call upon Him in truth? What can be 
more discouraging- to man since Adam was cast away 
frorn before the face of God and driven out of Eden ; 
since the cherub with the flaming sword was placed be- 
fore the entrance to Paradise ; since by a cloud Jesus 
was hid from the eyes of the disciples and of men, than 
this withdrawal of the visible God from the earth? Our 
only consolation is and must therefore be, that God in 
Christ nevertheless is near, may be found near, may be 
perceived in the Spirit, when we really desire Him and 
seek Him continually ; when we disengage body, soul and 
spirit from everything else; and when through faith 
and love we transport ourselves into His invisible pres- 
ence. And when we seek His face He will not frighten 
us nor appear terrible to us, but He will say, "Fear 
not, my child! Keep close to me and I will keep close 
to thee." Oh, how kindly He receives the children 
of men who turn back to Him ! How His heart 
yearns for us ! Let him who* desires real joy, who 
would taste the greatest bliss that man can have on 
earth, seek the nearness of God and Christ. Greater 
bliss can not be conceived of on earth than to have 
Jesus near. 

From all eternity, with love 
Unchangeable, Thou hast me viewed. 
Ere knew this breathing heart to move, 
Thy tender mercies me pursued; 
Ever with me may they abide, 
And close me in on every side. 



174 

THURSDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which 
shall believe on me through their word; that they all may 
be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they 
also may be one in us — — I in them, and thou in me, 
that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be m them, 
and I in them. John 17: 20 — 26. Christ in you, the hope 
of glory. Col. 1: 27. 

Christ has founded an association and a communion 
the like of which is not to be found in heaven or on 
earth. The Father in Him, He in the Father and in 
us. We in Him, and in the Father? What does this 
mean? Who can explain it? Who can comprehend it? 
We are not supposed to comprehend it, because we can- 
not. But we should be in Christ and remain in Him, 
we are to receive, enjoy and hold fast all that He would 
be to us and in us. And what is that? All that He 
has and is, is ours, because He is wholly and completely 
ours. As no one can ascend up to heaven and measure 
its height, so no one can fathom the depth of this mys- 
tery. Do not trouble yourself about that. Only cast 
yourself therein with all that you have and are, 
and live there. But is this for all? Is it for you also? 
Yes, if you believe ; for then He has acquired it for 
you by His intercessory prayers ; then you are a member 
of this mystical union with Christ and the Father as 
well as Peter and John. For He prayed expressly for 
all who, through the word of the apostles, should believe 
in Him. If you believe, then you may have this union. 
If still you have nothing of it, if your heart be empty 
and without Christ, if you live without His blessed 
communion, then you do not believe ; you have only the 
word "faith" in your mouth, but not the power of faith 
in your heart. He who believes, possess all that 
Christ has promised to faith, if not in complete fulness, 
yet at least in its beginnings. If we believe Him, we 
possess Him ; if we do not possess Him, we do not be- 
lieve Him. 



i75 

Thou my faith increase and quicken, 
Let me keep Thy gift divine, 
Howsoe'er .temptations thicken, 
May Thy word still o'er me shine; 
As my guiding star through life, 
As my comfort in my strife. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



My beloved is mine and I am his. Cant. 2: 16; 6: 3. 

For none of us liveth to himself. Whether we live, 

we live unto the Lord. Rom. 14: 7. 8. 

If Christ be in us, and if He be ours, it follows that 
we must be in Him. There can be no fellowship where 
the members do not divide all things with each other. 
Selfishness excludes fellowship. He who desires to 
have Christ whole and undivided, to be partaker of 
His merits., grace, and indwelling, His coming glory, 
must belong to* the Savior whole and undivided ; he 
must surrender wholly and completely to Christ, and 
continue to be His without any reservation in life and 
death, in joy and sorrow, without ever drawing back. 
There are many who glory in Christ and His merits. 
There are many who receive Jesus, but they do not 
surrender themselves to Christ ; they keep themselves 
back for themselves. Christ must not divide Himself ; 
He must surrender Himself completely to them ; but 
they divide themselves, and that most shamefully. They 
give Christ words, lip service and outward homage, 
while their heart clings to the world, sin, and themselves. 
These are Christians in name only. They delude them- 
selves into a belief concerning the merits of Christ, 
But they do not have Christ Himself. They never be- 
come partakers of Christ so long as they do not sur- 
render to Him. 

Savior, teach me day by day, 

Love's sweet lesson to obey; 

Sweeter lesson cannot be, 

Loving Him who first loved me. 

With a childlike heart of love, 
At Thy bidding may I move, 
Prompt to serve and follow Thee, 
Loving Him who first loved me. 



176 

SATURDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

When 1 sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto 
me. Mic. 7: 8. Light is sown for the righteous, and glad- 
ness for the upright in heart. Ps. 97: 11. 

Here on earth the conflict between light and dark- 
ness will continue in us as well as about us. No matter 
how enlightened you may be, you must nevertheless 
walk through dark nights and valleys of deep shadow. 
It will often be so dark to your spiritual eye that the 
sun and moon and stars seem to be extinguished on 
the firmament of your soul, as if they were never again 
to shine, as if you were buried in eternal darkness never 
again to see a ray of light. Your sun, the presence of 
the Lord, will hide itself as if He had never shone for 
you. You are troubled by the doubt as to whether it 
has not been a dream and disappointment, if the day 
has really ever existed in your soul. "There is no light ; 
you have deluded yourself," are the words of the tempt- 
er. Bat you must wait and believe in the invisible 
light as if you saw it. There will soon be a change. 
Night will again be swallowed up by day. The sun 
cannot remain down: when his hour comes, he must 
again rise and run his course. If you will not create 
a light in the darkness, if you rather depend on the 
Lord and wait for Him, He will be your light in the 
darkness ; He will guide you with a hidden hand, and 
let the light and the gladness anew arise in His good 
time. If, therefore, afflictions darken the horizon of 
your soul, and you do not see the sun, if not even a 
star shines for you, then believe nevertheless, and do 
not doubt that sun and stars are and remain in the 
heavens, even though they are hidden behind the clouds. 
They are in the same place whether you see them or 
not. A good sailor knows where he is, where the sun 
and the stars are, even though it storms and the sky be 
overcast with clouds. He goes according to them just 
as well as if he saw them in clear weather. Christ 
is the same even when you do not see Him. The hand 
of the Lord is over you even though it be hidden from 
your view. 






177 

And thus my trust is in the Lord, 
"And not in mine own merit; 
I rest upon His faithful word 
To them of contrite spirit. 
That He is merciful and just, — 
Here is my comfort and my trust, 
His help I wait in patience. 



THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



My soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy 
wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be 
overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that 
performeth all things for me. Ps. 57: 1. 2. 

He who on reading this psalm through feel's him- 
self in the same or in a similar situation as that of David 
when he, being pursued by Saul, fled to the cave ( i 
Sam. 22\ i) ; he who is bowed down by some afflic- 
tion or tribulation, should follow the same course as 
David followed: he should hasten to place himself under 
the shadow of the wings of the Lord, where be is safe 
and secure, until the calamity be overpast. Where do 
we find the shadow of His wings? Where does He 
spread them over us? Where does He cover us with 
His protection? Wherever we seek Him; wherever we 
call upon Him ; wherever our heart longs for Him. 
In the fiery furnace of affliction He is our cooling 
and refreshment if we seek Him where He visits us 
with tribulations, namely, in our heart. There He will 
most assuredly let Himself be found. He has said, 
"I am with thee in distress." He is never nearer, and 
never easier to be found, than when He visits us with 
tribulation. If we fall into the hands of men, and they 
stab, smite and tear us asunder with spears and arrows, 
with the keen sword of their tongue, no other help is 
left but to look up to Him who sends afflictions. He 
cannot be far away. Men are but instruments in His 
hand. The hand must be just as near as the instru- 
ment, since the hand holds and guides it. He avIio 
permits the tribulation to come, will also know how 
to end it. Meanwhile, His "shadow" is sufficient for 
you. 



i78 

In the furnace God may prove thee, 
Thence to bring thee forth more bright, 
But can never cease to love thee; 
Thou art precious in His sight: 
God is with thee, 
God, thine everlasting Light. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 
John 14: 18. I go away, and come again unto you. If ye 
loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, 1 go unto the 
Father. John 14: 28. 

What sacred and' glorious promises our Savior has 
left us ! How tenderly, kindly and comfortingly He 
speaks to His children and prepares them for the with- 
drawal of His visible presence ! Blessed is the believ- 
ing heart that takes the Savior at His word, and which 
comforts itself with His invisible presence, and trusts 
in that as if it saw Him. Should He withdraw Himself 
from such a child-like mind and not keep His precious 
word, who always rejoiced when He saw faith in His 
Word, if only as a mustard seed? Shall He rejoice 
only when men in faith receive of Him physical help, 
healing from their bodily weaknesses and diseases? 
Shall it not much sooner cause Him heavenly joy when 
we not only lay hold of His gifts, but of Himself in 
faith, when we take Him at the word* "I will come 
unto you ; I will not leave you comfortless ;" when 
we consider this promise not as empty words, but 
as the truth, and we hold it fast as such? He who holds 
fast the word of Christ, holds Christ fast. 

Lord, Thy word abideth, 
And our footsteps guideth; 
Who its truth believeth 
Light and joy receiveth. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to pre- 
pare a place for you. I will come again, and receive 

you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be alsoi. 
John 14: 2. 3. 



i79 

What a word of consolation for all the suffering and 
comfortless ones on earth ! He who appropriates Thee, 
Jesus, in faith, may rejoice in afflictions and be of 
good cheer in the most cheerless situation, content 
in the midst of discontent. The Son of God alone, 
the Son of eternal Love, can bring comfort. Such 
promises of eternal life — who else can give them, who 
else can fulfill them? Therefore Thou oughtest to own 
our whole heart, Thou who preparest a place for us, 
Thou builder of the heavenly mansions, Thou messen- 
ger from the Father, who Thyself wilt come lor us, 
and lead us into His crvstal and diamond palaces. When 
the poor, weak heart thinks to itself, "'Where Thou art, 
there shall I be also ; as Thou art exalted and glorious, 
so shall I also be/' — when the heart grasps and under- 
stands this word in its full meaning, in its height and 
depth, it is ready to die with the glory and blessedness 
of this hope. Why, then, wilt Thou have us with Thee, 
so near toThee, and eternally with Thee ? What is there 
in us pleasing to Thee? What joy do we cause Thee? 
Are we able to increase Thy blessedness ? Yes, we are to 
be an object of Thy love which it may love to its full sat- 
isfaction ; for no creature is so much in need of Thy 
love and favor as we poor, weak sinners. Who can 
behold the heavens without thinking of Thee and Thy 
heavenly promise, without rejoicing rapturously in this 
promise? Heaven, house of the Father, home of the 
disciples of Jesus, how beautiful art thou not when 
thou art explained to us by the words of Jesus ! When 
we think of the ''mansions" His hands have prepared for 
us, who can be satisfied to look at them even from with- 
out ! How must it not be within ! 

Jerusalem, thou city fair and high, 

Would God I were in thee! 

My longing heart fain, fain to thee would fly! 

It will not stay with me: 

Far over vale and mountain, 

Far over field and plain, 

It hastes to seek its Fountain 

And quit this world of pain. 



i8o 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the 
holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, 
which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is 
to say, his flesh; and having a high-priest over the house 
of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full as- 
surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil 
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 
10: 19-22. 

Yes, he that is sprinkled with the blood of Christ 
can enter even here with "boldness," with glad and 
child-like confidence, "into the holiest," into the com- 
munion of God in the Spirit, and once, beyond, into 
heaven. To that end "the new and living way," which 
Christ has consecrated by His sufferings, death, resur- 
rection and ascension, lies open for us. He has prepared 
the way. As our Predecessor He has entered in before 
us ; and not only has He left the way and the gate open 
for us, but He will Himself be our way and our gate; 
He will draw us with the strong, three-stranded cord of 
love, faith, and hope. When we hold fast and do not 
let this cord slip out of our hands, He will unfailingly 
draw us after Himself in the new and living way. How 
beautifully does not St. Paul express it, calling the way 
"living." Why does he call it thus ? Is not Christ Him- 
self the way? (John 14: 6). Is not He living? Is He 
not the way, and the truth, and the life? Is it not also 
"new?" Where has there, before or after Him, been 
found a way to heaven, a way to the Father? Friend, 
leave the old ways of the world and of sin, and choose 
this "new and living way." How good it is to walk on 
a new way, and how easy to walk on a "living" way, 
which is called "living" because it revives and strength- 
ens the pilgrims; helps them up when they fall; gives 
them new strength when they are weary; directs them 
and leads them back when they err or go astray; a 
way which is all to all men who walk upon it. What a 
way! Where is such a way as this? And yet so few 
walk upon it. 



i8i 

Jesus, my Truth, my Way, 

My sure unerring Light, 

On .Thee my feeble soul I stay, 

Which Thou wilt lead aright. 



ASCENSION DAY. 



God Ss gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of 
a trumpet. Ps. 47: 5. When r.e ascended up on high, he 
lead captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. He that 
descended is the same also that ascended up far above 
all heavens, that he might fill all things. Eph. 4: 8 — 10. 
He has made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ 
Jesus. Eph. 2: 6. 

The ascension of Jesus filled heaven and earth with 
great joy. It is the triumph over all enemies ; for He 
is, as the Head of mankind, ascended up far above all 
heavens. And where the Head is, there must also the 
members be. He will draw them all to Himself. The 
Head has conquered and broken through; then it is 
impossible that the members should be left behind. He 
has taken captive the prison in which sin and the devil 
held us captive (Ps. 68: 18), that is to say, all that 
placed man in chains', checked his course and held him 
back, has been conquered by Jesus and taken captive by 
His sufferings and death. He has taken him captive who 
held us all in captivity. He has taken the keeper of 
the prison captive and has thrown him into prison. And 
if the warden of the prison is in prison, then the captives 
are free. He has, however, not only freed us from 
chains and from prison, not only procured for us the 
forgiveness of sins, but He has also distributed gifts, 
the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that we might not again 
be taken captive, but conquer the world, Satan, and 
the evil desires that are ever ready to recapture us. 
He has procured and bestowed power and wings that 
we might soar up to Him and be transported from the 
visible kingdom to His invisible kingdom, to heaven. 

Draw us to Thee, Lord Jesus, 
And we will hasten on; 
For strong desire doth seize us 
To go where Thou art gone. 



182 

Draw us to Thee; nor leave us 
Till all our faith is trod, 
Then in Thy arms receive us, 
And bear us home to God. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted 

up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while 

he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up 
into heaven. Luke 24: 50. 51. 

For the last time the Son of man walked on earth 
with His disciples, and took the road leading to Bethany 
which was so dear to Him. There, it was destined, 
He should leave this earth, that He might, although in- 
visible, be very close to them. For the last time He 
lifted His holy, pierced hands over the disciples to bless 
them. Fortunate disciples, who saw with your own 
eyes these hands lifted in benediction over you. What 
a benediction it must have been ! But did it concern 
you only and not also the believers through the coming 
centuries, as that other prayer in John ij : 20? Yes, it 
surely concerned them also. Therefore I, too, place 
myself without hesitation among Thy disciples, O Lord, 
as if I saw Thee lift Thy pierced hands over me; as if 
Thou didst even to-day stand before my eyes and pour 
out Thy heavenly blessings upon me and all who love 
Thy name and trust in Thee and in Thy grace. I rest 
assured that Thou dost bless whenever a soul has a 
living faith in Thee just as well now as on the occasion 
when Thy disciples saw Thee ; for to bless is Thy pleas- 
ure, and Thou art sent us by the Father in order to 
bless us (Acts 3: 26). With a benediction didst Thou 
ascend from the earth up to heaven, and with a bene- 
diction Thou lookest ever down as often as we trust- 
fully, prayerfully, and longingly look up to Thee. 

Up to heaven ascending 

Our dear Lord has gone; 

Yet His little children 

Leaves He not alone. 

Spirit of adoption! 

Make us overflow 

With Thy sevenfold blessing, 

And in grace to grow. 



i«3 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



Christ entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the 
presence of God for us. Heb. 9: 24. Wherefore he is 
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God 
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
Heb. 7: 25. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus 
Christ the righteous. 1 John 2: 1. 

What joy and comfort ! Jesus has not left us ; He has 
not withdrawn from us by going to the Father ; but for 
us, for our sake, did He go away, for our sake He is 
there. We have an accuser there, an enemy, who day 
and night accuses us, puts the darkest coloring on all 
our faults and transgressions, and challenges the justice 
and vengenace of God to come upon us. He also* slan- 
ders us (Rev. 12: io ; Job 1:9; Zech. 3:1). Therefore, 
how fortunate is it not that we have a friend, an attor- 
ney, an advocate above, and One before whom all our 
enemies and accusers must keep silence, because He has 
conquered them all ! Hence He says, "It is expedient 
for you that I go away." Yes, it certainly is expedient, 
O Lord, that we have Thee above and yet here at the 
same time. When we draw nigh unto God in prayer 
it shall never fail, that there already stands One in the 
presence of God in our stead who always lives, never 
sleeps, never slumbers, and who 1 always intercedes for 
us. What a great and beautiful thought ! May it never 
leave me ! The Lord lifts His pierced hands before 
the throne of the Father also for me. The Lord is there 
for my sake, that He may appear before the Father in 
my stead. 

He died to bear the guilt of mem, 
That sin might be forgiven: 
He lives to bless them and defend, 
And plead their cause in heaven. 



THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



While they beheld he was taken up; and a cloud received 
him out of their sight. Acts 1: 9. He was parted from 
them, and carried up to heaven. And they worshipped him. 
Luke 24: 51. b* 



184 

The disciples saw Christ bleeding upon the cross, 
bowing His head in death, buried, and the sepulchre 
sealed. Then, undoubtedly, was also their faith complete- 
ly buried. How hard would it not have been for them to 
believe, even though an angel had told them, "This 
Jesus, who< lies in the sepulchre, and in whom there is 
no trace of life, shall ascend in the cloud, up to 
heaven before your eyes." But behold, it came to 
pass, nevertheless, however hard it was to believe. As 
small and weak as the faith of the disciples was 
at that time, so great became their joy and adora- 
tion later, when they saw with their own eyes that 
which was so hard to believe. Thus it is with 
the promises of God. Thus it is with ourselves. 
We who now walk in the dust must believe that we 
shall once shine as the stars, that we shall see Him as He 
is and be like Him. No matter how incredible this may 
seem, it shall nevertheless come to pass. Whatsoever 
the Lord promises, that will He assuredly keep, and 
much more. It will all take place and far surpass our 
boldest expectations. Then we shall stand humbled, 
as the disciples, and yet rejoice because the Lord is 
greater, more faithful, and more true than our weak 
faith could conceive Him to be. How small Jesus was 
in the manger ! How poor and lowly ! And later, 
on the cross, how bruised, how despised, how rejected, 
how powerless, how abased ! But shortly afterwards, on 
the day of ascension, how great, how glorious, how 
powerful, how highly exalted above all others ! Thus 
the disciples worshipped. I believe that I would have 
worshipped too. But in the stable, on the cross, where 
all cursed and reviled Him — what would I have done 
then? 

Jesus lives! to Him the throne 

High o'er heaven and earth is given: 

I shall go where He is gone, 

Live and reign with Him in heaven. 

'God is pledged; weak doubtings, hence! 

This shall be my confidence. 






i8S 

MONDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 



Thou hast ascended on high — thou hast received 

gifts for men. Ps. 68: 18. Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all 
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 1: 3. 

He ascended on high to the Father to receive what 
He had earned by His sufferings and death, by His 
obedience unto the death of the cross ; yet not only to 
let Himself be crowned with honor and glory, but more 
especially to receive the gifts of grace, benefits and bless- 
ings, which He had earned for the world, and to> bestow 
them upon the redeemed. He did not enter into heaven 
there to rest from His sorrow and labor, much less to 
take vengeance upon the ungodly men who had reviled 
and crucified Him on earth, but to overwhelm them with 
grace and benefits, to save them and draw them unto 
Himself. However great and splendid the honor and 
glory which He enjoys on the throne of God, yet it is 
not too great for Him to look down upon us, who are 
poor and groveling in the dust. No, He remains in 
constant communication with His own on earth. He 
stretches out His hand, full of gracious gifts, from high 
heaven and fills us with blessings and happiness as often 
as we lift our hearts snd hands to' Him. He stretches 
His hands down to us in the depths to draw us out 
of the darkness of earth to His eternal kingdom of 
light. He cannot rest. He wants us all to be with Him, 
to possess and enjoy the gifts which He has earned for 
us, for this life as well as for the life to come. We are 
to have all that He Himself has. In such manner does 
the Father bless us through the Son. 

Savior, draw away our heart 
Now from pleasures base and hollow, 
Let us there with Thee have part, 
Here on earth Thy footsteps follow. 
Fix our hearts beyond the skies, 
Whither we ourselves would rise. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



The Lord sat on the right hand of God. Mark 

16: 19. Who is he that condemneth? Christ is even 

at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for 
us- Rom. 8: 34. We have such a.n high-priest, who is set 
on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heav- 
ens. Heb. 8: 1. Him hath God exalted with his right hand 
to be a prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel 
and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5: 31. 

Stephen saw Jesus "on the right hand of God" (Acts 
7: 55), and whoever will mount up in the Spirit to 
Him and call upon Him earnestly and in faith shall 
know "the saving strength of His right hand" (Ps. 20: 
6) ; that His "right hand is full of righteousness" (Ps. 
48: 10) ; that the power of His right hand can change 
all things ; that He has a strong "hand" and that His 
"right hand" is "high" (Ps. 89: 13). What it means to 
sit "on the right hand of God," the Savior has Himself 
explained in saving, "Unto me is given all power in 
heaven and on earth." He reigns ; He is the King of 
kings and Lord of lords, the Almighty; and yet He 
is our friend and brother, our advocate, our high-priest, 
our Savior, who concerns Himself about the least as if 
he were the greatest. As high-priest He bears all upon 
His heart, not only on the breastplate, as Aaron did 
the children of Israel, but graven in His heart and 
hands. With power and might just as well as with love 
and kindness He rules over all things and thinks of all 
who believe in Him and trust in Him. No human heart 
can comprehend what blessedness and grace are con- 
tained in the fact that Jesus is human as we are human ; 
that Pie is our Brother, who is God over all, exalted to 
the right hand of the majesty in heaven; our Prince 
and Savior, who does not use His power and greatness 
to destroy, but to bestow penitence and forgiveness of 
sins upon those who seek Him in prayer. 
Jesus Christ, my sure defence, 
And my Savior, ever liveth; 
Knowing this, my confidence 
Rests upon the hope He giveth, 
Though the nights of death he fraught 
Still with many an anxious thought. 



i8 7 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which 
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth. Col. 3: 1. 2. 

He who believes that Christ also for his sake is 
ascended up to heaven and that He sits at the right hand 
of God ; that there He is his advocate, intercedes for him, 
and thinks of him, must show his faith by a heavenly 
mind and conversation. Where your treasure is, there 
will your heart be also. If Christ at the right hand of 
God be your treasure and inheritance, then your heart 
•will be more with Him above than here upon earth. 
But as long as you seek earthly things more than heav- 
enly things, and have your heart more set upon cor- 
ruptible things than upon things eternal ; as long as 
you cling with your whole heart to glory and honor 
among men, and regard carnal pleasures as your heaven, 
you delude yourself, and your faith in Christ is a mere 
fancy. The living faith in Him who is exalted to the 
right -hand of God does not permit us to cling to the 
low earth, but lifts us up to Him in whom we believe. 
If Christ in heaven be your head and Savior, you must 
as one of His members be with Him. If with your 
whole soul and body you are down here on earth, then 
you as a member are a long way from the Head. How 
can a separated member enjoy the beneficent influence 
of the Head? You can not believe in Him, nor cling 
to Him, without being near Him in spirit, without being 
with Him, without rising to Him. Yea, the heart of 
a true Christian is not at home here ; it is with the 
Savior in heaven. 

From that living Fountain drinking, 
Walking always at His side, 
Christ shall lead me without sinking 
Through the river's rushing tide; 
With the hlest to sing forever; 
I will leave my Jesus never! 



i88 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 



And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new 
spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of 
their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Bzek. 11: 

19; 36: 26. 

If there be any fault in man — and who has not his 
faults? — it lies in his heart. The heart of man, all the 
inventions of the thoughts of his heart, are "wicked 
from his youth up." It is susceptible to evil, and light- 
ning-like gathers up base impressions ; against God and 
divine things the heart is hard as a rock and devoid 
of feeling. Who' can soften this hardness, and crush 
this stone? The Lord has promised to do' it; He is 
faithful ; He will also do it. Only take your heart to 
Him often ; only expose yourself to* the warming and 
softening rays of His love, in heartfelt, earnest prayer, 
and your heart will be changed. All things are changed 
by coming close to the fire ; they melt, are softened, or 
hardened, cleansed, beautified, or consumed. The Lord 
is a consuming fire ; if you allow yourself to come into 
contact with Him, as the goldsmith holds the gold in 
the fire, then that which is hard must become soft ; that 
which is impure must become pure ; and that which is 
evil must be consumed. No man can excuse himself 
with his weak or hard heart, which he has by nature, 
since the Lord so clearly and positively has promised to 
give us "a new heart" and a new "spirit," to take away 
our "stony heart" and give us "a heart of flesh," a 
heart soft and susceptible to His impressions and influ- 
ences. You can rest assured that He gives it to you, 
if you allow Him to give it to you, and that He takes 
away all that must be taken away, if you allow Him to 
do so. 

Create my nature pure within, 
And form my soul averse to sin: 
Let Thy good Spirit ne'er depart, 
Nor hide Thy presence from my heart. 



i8q 

FRIDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 

My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he 
also is flesh. Gen. 6: 3. Thy Spirit is good; lead me into 
the land of uprightness. Ps. 143: 10. But ye are not in 
the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God 
dwell in you- Rom. 8: 9. 

The Spirit of God strives with all men, even 
the most ungodly. He strove with the first men, whom 
by inward and outward chastisement He sought to bring 
into the right way until they stubbornly resisted Him 
and would no longer lend Him ear. But then He anni- 
hilated all of them by the deluge. When a man no 
longer gives ear to the Spirit of God, he is nothing but 
a human animal. Therefore, what a blessing it is that 
the holy and pure Spirit of God comes to "reason to- 
gether" with fallen men! Since He does not cease to 
chastise even wicked men in order to save them, what 
will He not do for them who come before Him in prayer 
and supplication day and night? How gladly He will 
work in them, and how patiently He will carry them and 
lead them ! Now examine yourself whether you are 
spiritual or carnal. Is the Spirit of God still striving 
with you as He does with the wicked world? Does He 
dwell in you? Do you follow Him? Are you led by 
the Spirit in the even way of truth and righteousness? 
Are you grieving the Spirit ? Do you give more heed to 
the flesh than to the Spirit? If you do, you are in 
danger of losing the Spirit entirely and of becoming 
thoroughly carnal and base. 

Holy Spirit, strong and mighty, 
Thou who maketh all things new, 
Make Thy work within me perfect, 
Help me by Thy Word so true; 
Arm me with that Sword of Thine, 
And the victory shall be mine. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
EASTER. 

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 
Mat. 28: 18. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the 
heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Ps. 103: 19. 



190 

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the 
heavens. Ps. 123: 1. 

When we add this to all the other glorious promises 
which the Lord has given concerning His ascension, 
our comfort and joy are complete. His love and faith- 
fulness, His favor and grace, are immeasurable as we 
know from all His promises. But the same is true in 
regard to His power and greatness, His rule and domin- 
ion. We should no more doubt His ability than His 
willingness. God is the self-sufficient, almighty, all- 
directing love and mercy. Who is like unto Him ? Who 
can be against us when He is for us? Who can stand 
against Him? Who can curse us. when He blesses us? 
No matter how high He is exalted above all things, yet 
He sees the worm in the dust. Why, then, should He 
not look down to those who pray in confidence, to pious 
hearts whom He has purchased with His blood? How 
can He, who does not overlook anything, be able to 
overlook those who longingly look up to Him and trust 
in Him with all their heart? Dear heart, only turn to 
Him. His eye shall not overlook you. When the eye 
of almighty love looks down upon you, what do you 
fear? 

He lives to grant me rich supply, 

He lives to guide me with His eye, 

He lives to comfort me when faint, 

He lives to hear my soul's complaint. 



PENTECOST. 



And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they 
were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there 
came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, 
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And 
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, 
and it sat upon each of them: and they were all filled with 
the Holy Ghost. Acts 2: 1-4. 

See what the unanimous prayers of believers here 
effected ! Must not prayer always have the same result, 
when it is offered in the same confidence in the divine 
promises ? Certainly ; no prayer that comes from the 
heart, remains without its pentecostal blessing. No one 
prays in spirit and faith without being filled with the 



191 

Holy Ghost and the fire of the love of God. One never 
returns empty from prayer, if his prayer is deserving 
of the name. You may have a day of Pentecost every 
day if you pray every day earnestly and ardently for 
the Holy Ghost. If you are not full of your own self, 
if you are empty of your own spirit, and your heart 
cries to heaven in the Spirit, as a dry land for rain, the 
Holy Ghost will certainly not allow your heart to remain 
empty. But where the heart is full of one's own spirit, 
the Holy Ghost can not enter ; for our own spirit is an 
unclean spirit, and what communion hath light with 
darkness ? 

Come, O come, Thou quickening Spirit, 

Thou forever art divine: 

Let Thy power never fail me, 

Always fill this heart of mine; 

Thus shall grace and truth and light 

Chase away the gloom of night. 



THE DAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that 
we are the children of God. Rom. 8: 16. The things of 

God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. The 

Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 
1 Cor. 2: 11. 10. Cast me not away from thy presence; 
and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Ps. 51: 11. 

We read the truth in the Scriptures and when we 
have read or heard God's Word, we know what God has 
promised. But whether God means you and me; — 
whether He will give or has given you and me what He 
thus promises, is something concerning which our spirit 
as a rule is in doubt, and which it cannot in a living 
manner and with confidence believe before we receive 
the divine testimony concerning it in our heart. God 
only knows how it is with the faith of those who only 
believe the outward Word without the inward testimony 
of the Holy Spirit; who have but an historical faith, 
that is, who regard the thing as true, and appropriate 
it, without perceiving the working of divine grace by 
the Holy Spirit in the heart. It is impossible that such 
a faith as this can save, because it does not transform 



192 

the old manner of living into a new manner of living, 
and does not in reality unite the heart with Christ. 
When, on the other hand, the Holy Spirit gives testi- 
mony to my spirit, that is, testifies to and seals in my 
heart that which is written in the outward Word, then 
I do not only know what is written in the Bible, but also 
what is written in the fatherly heart of God for me, and 
for me particularly; for the Spirit of God searches the 
deep things of God that are hidden to me, and bears tes- 
timony thereof to me. Yet when you have this testimony, 
you must not lose it. When the Spirit of God testified 
to me yesterday, "Thou art a child of God," I must also 
to-day know how I stand with God and whether He has 
anything to censure in me. Otherwise I could not be 
at peace. Therefore it is written in 1 John 5: 10, that 
the believers have this witness in themselves ; not that 
they have once had it. Hence David prays, "Take not 
Thy Holy Spirit from me. Let me always retain Him, 
that He may daily testify to me, daily assure me of 
God's favor and grace." He who abides in Christ, in 
him does Christ abide, and consequently also His Spirit, 
as Christ has promised. "For He dwelleth with you, 
and shall be in you" (John 14: 16. 17). 

O Holy Spirit, enter in, 

Among these hearts Thy work begin, 

Thy temple deign to make us; 

Sun of the soul, Thou Light Divine, 

Around and in us brightly shine, 

To strength and gladness wake us. 

Where Thou shinest, 

Life from heaven 

There is given. 

We before Thee 

For Thy precious gift implore Thee. 



TUESDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth 
my soul after thee, O God. Ps. 42: 1. And thou shalt 
smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that 
the people may drink. Ex. 17: 6. And they thirsted not 
when he led them through the deserts: he caused the 
waters to flow out of the rock for them. Is. 48: 21. And 
that rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10: 4. 



193 

He who is not satisfied with the lukewarm water of 
mere knowledge ; who is weary of the broken cisterns 
of this world's insipid wisdom ; who thirsts for fresh and 
living water as a hart in the noonday heat; who knows 
the Rock from which flows the water of life ; who under- 
stands how to smite this Rock: for him will flow the 
water of life in the dry desert of this life, and he, his 
people, his children, his friends and relatives, shall have 
enough to drink. The Lord procured for His people 
such abundance of water in the desert that they suffered 
no thirst during the forty years they remained there. 
A rock must give water to God's people. Was not this 
rock a type of Christ? Was it not, as St. Paul says, 
Christ Himself ? Yes, beloved, we have this Rock among 
us and in us ; he who believes on Him, "out of his 
belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7: 38). 
This Rock gives water in abundance for the thirsty 
hearts of all nations on earth. As often as we smite 
His heart with the rod of believing, earnest prayer and 
child-like confidence, the water of life springs forth, 
spirit and unction, peace and grace, and they flow into 
our thirsty hearts so that we lack no good thing. He 
gives the Spirit without measure. But shepherd and 
flock, pastors and hearers, teachers and pupils, old and 
young, soul and body, must languish in the desert of this 
life if they do not thirst for this water, and believe on 
the Rock ; if they do not pray in faith, continue in prayer, 
and walk in the enjoyment thereof. Take this to heart, 
you who are to instruct and direct others or be any- 
thing to them. First receive something yourself; pant 
for fresh water; smite the Rock so that it gives water, 
from which your people, your children, pupils and hear- 
ers, your subjects or at least your own heart, may drink. 
The heart of Jesus which is opened in the covenant, His 
wounds that are as a fountain — these you are to smite 
with your prayers ; they are the fountain of living water. 
Jesus gives the Spirit (John 16: 7. T3. 14). In His 
name and at His intercession the Father sends the Holy 
Ghost (John 14: 16. 26). Mark this, that in your pray- 
ers you may not beat the air, but strike the right Rock, 



194 

out of which the water will infallibly spring as often 
as you smite it. Smite the Rock, that your people 
may drink. The Rock is Christ. 

O mighty Rock, O Source of Life, 

Let Thy dear Word, 'mid doubt and strife, 

Be so within us burning, 

That we be faithful unto death, 

In Thy pure love and holy faith, 

From Thee true wisdom learning! 

Lord, Thy graces 

On us shower, 

By Thy power 

Christ confessing, 

Let us win His grace and blessing. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we 
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the 
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groajiings 
which cannot be uttered. Rom. 8: 26. And hereby we 
know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath 
given us. 1 John 3: 24. 

He who has a desire to pray is certainly not with- 
out the Holy Spirit and therefore not without Christ. 
Where the Spirit of prayer dwells, there Jesus dwells 
also, and the Father. A sure sign that you are a temple 
of God in the Spirit is this, that you find your greatest 
joy in communing with God in the Spirit and in walk- 
ing with Jesus, that you delight in prayer. Prayer is 
not a mumbling of words ; true, holy prayer is an unut- 
terable groaning of the Spirit. As long as you talk 
much in prayer, there is yet much of your own fire, 
a not altogether clean, but, perhaps, a strange and un- 
holy fire in it. But when the Holy Spirit lays the live 
coals in the censer and puts incense thereon, then the 
holy flame lifts us ever higher and the voice fails us ; 
we can no longer find words. The heart and spirit 
say more without words in the presence of God than 
the lips can utter. We would, nevertheless, by no means 
condemn oral prayer. Everything has its time. I only 
mean that he who prays with the lips only, has little or 



i95 

no use for the Holy Spirit ; he relies too much on him- 
self and thinks that he does not need the divine Advocate. 

Lighten Thou our darkness, 
Be Thyself our light; 
Strengthen Thou our weakness, 
Spirit of all might! 

Spirit of adoption! 

Make us overflow 

With Thy sevenfold blessing, 

And in grace to grow. 



THURSDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel. Joel 
2: 27. Where two or three are gathered together in my 
•name, there am I in the midst of them. Mat. 18: 20. 

' Yes, we may know that He is "in the midst" of us, 
whether it be two or two thousand who gather together 
in His name. We can experience it, even though the 
world disbelieve it, reject and rail at it as fanaticism. 
We experience it ; this you know, who love the Savior 
with all your heart. God has said, Ye shall know that 
I am in the midst of you ; consequently it must be pos- 
sible, it must be an object of experience. Only he who 
experiences it, knows that it actually takes place; for it 
is a matter of the heart and can not be explained. It 
must also remain in the heart. Oh, that the Savior may 
have this joy, every time we come together, to let Him- 
self be known by us. Oh, that we may thus be gathered 
together in His name, in a living faith and in true love 
to His name ; then He shall never fail to come. He 
never fails. He cannot be absent from us. It is we 
who fail to come to Him ; we do not see Him. But if 
we are gathered together in the Spirit, if we arc intent 
on Him, and long only for Him, we shall surely feel 
His never-failing presence among us. Do not body and 
soul live and rejoice in the living God when He makes 
Himself known? Is not everything living, powerful, 
anointed and beautiful when He lets Himself be known 
among us? Is not everything dead, cold, dark and 
insipid when the heart lacks Him — when we do not 



196 

have Jesus in our midst? Therefore, nobody should in 
Christian congregations seek anything else but Jesus and 
His presence ; for all other longing and desire are mere 
chaff blown away by the wind. The most beautiful ser- 
mon, the best book, does not please us when He is not 
found in it. "I am in the midst of you. Ye shall know 
it." So be it. 

Lord Jesus, though but two or three 
In Thy dear name assembled be, 
Thou wilt among them show Thy face, 
And bless them with Thy saving grace. 



FRIDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods 
upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, 
and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring 
up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 
Is. 44: 3. 4. I will give unto him that is athirst of the 
fountain of the water of life freely. Rev. 21: 6. I will 
sprinkle clean water upon you. Ezek. 36: 25. 

He that is not thirsty does not drink even though 
there be water in abundance. It is so also in regard to 
spiritual things. There is no lack of the water of life, 
no lack of the pouring out of the Spirit. According to 
the true promises of God, there can be no lack of these 
things. But there is a great lack of thirsty souls. There 
is too much thirst for earthly things, for gold, for 
showers of money, for the gratification of evil desires 
and sinful amusements ; too much of devouring hunger 
for glory and honor among men, for praise and fame. 
Where is the thirst fo r the heavenly good things, for 
the pentecostal rain? God can not and will not give His 
water of life to others than those who thirst for it; 
who, like dry ground upon which everything in the sum- 
mer is parched from the heat of the sun, thirst 
for refreshment, for comfort, power and life from 
above ; who cry to heaven for this day and night. 
He who has sufficient in himself cannot receive 
the Spirit from God. If you are athirst and needy, 
but do not pray and continue in prayer, you will 



197 

not receive the Spirit, at least not in rich measure. 
But without God's Spirit you are dead in trespasses. 
Therefore pray, struggle and wait, till the rain falls; 
until the fountain of the water of life opens and your 
Savior refreshes you therewith ; until He pours out His 
Spirit upon your seed ; until you and yours shall spring 
up as among the grass, as "willows by the water courses." 
It is so written : it shall come to pass. What the Lord 
has caused to* be written in the Bible, He will also ful- 
fill. Pray and persevere in faith. 

O gentle dew from, heaven now fall 

With power upon the hearts of all, 

Thy tenderness instilling; 

That heart to heart more closely hound, 

Fruitful in kindly deeds be found, 

The law of love fulfilling: 

No wrath, no strife 

Here shall grieve Thee, 

We receive Thee, 

Where Thou livest 

Peace and love and joy Thou givest. 



SATURDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 

I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the in- 
habitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of suppli- 
cations. Zech. 12: 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; 
and renew a right spirit within me. Ps„ 51: 10. 

To "the house of David" and to "the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem" belong all true disciples of Christ ; for Christ 
and His kingdom is the house of David, the new Jeru- 
salem, and its inhabitants are the believers who seek 
that only which is above — who, like David, make sup- 
plication for a new and "right spirit," for a "clean heart." 
The Lord forestalls our prayers. All that we are 
to pray for, He has already put in our mouth. He 
will even bestow upon us the Spirit of prayer, without 
whom we cannot pray. So merciful is the Lord, and yet 
our trust in Him is so small and weak. For that reason 
alone we ought to feel prompted to ask for the Spirit of 
grace and supplication ; for grace makes the heart pos- 
itive and steady, and the Spirit alone can quicken us. 
All our misery is a result of our lack of the Spirit. The 



198 

leanness of our soul, our sensuality, the emptiness of 
our heart — how deeply ought not these to bow us down ! 
How powerfully ought they not drive us to pray daily 
that the Spirit of grace and supplication may be poured 
upon us; for the Lord will not bestow His Spirit upon 
us unless we pray for Him in great hunger and thirst 
and long for Him. But as most people undertake to da 
all in their own spirit, and even pray in such a spirit, 
they are and remain in their poverty and lack of Spirit, 
crippled Christians who know more than they do, and 
see farther than they are willing to go. 

Left to ourselves, we shall but stray; 

O lead us on the narrow way, 

With wisest counsel guide us; 

And give us steadfastness, that we 

May henceforth truly follow Thee, 

Whatever woes betide us: 

Heal Thou gently, 

Hearts now broken, 

Give some token 

Thou art near us, 

Whom we trust to light and cheer us. 



TRINITY SUNDAY. 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them In 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost. Mat. 28: 19. For there are three that bear record 
\n heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and 
these three are one. 1 John 5: 7. 

Thank God,, we are not commanded to search out or 
explain the mystery of the Trinity — for then we should 
soon fail — but to believe and to rest in the triune God. 
We know enough of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost 
to> be saved. What we do not know would, presumably, 
in our present state, make us no more blessed or better, 
if we did know. Otherwise God, who is love, would 
not have hid it from us. Hence do not rack your brains 
in trying to comprehend the Trinity, but surrender your 
heart to it, and love the God whose words and deeds 
all bear witness that He is love, and that through all 
eternity He can do naught but love. How dear you 
must be to the Father, you poor child of man, since 



199 

He has given you His Son ! How dear you must be 
to the Son since He has given Himself for you ! How 
dear you must be to the Holy Ghost since He so 
fondly instructs you, glorifies Jesus, the Savior, in your 
heart, renews you, and regenerates you to be a child of 
God and a joint heir with Christ! What good have 
you done since the Father and the Son will come and 
take up their abode in you? (John 14: 23). By what 
have you deserved to be the temple of the Holy Ghost? 
(1 Cor. 6: 19). What have you given the triune God 
who in baptism has received you into His house and 
made you partaker of the rights and claims of all His 
children and heirs ? Keep silence, and worship ! Love, 
believe, hope and surrender yourself. The mystery is 
even now great enough — how will it be when you shall 
look down into the abyss of His grace and love? 

Praised be the Lord, my God, 
He who forever liveth, 
To whom the heavenly host 
E'er praise and honor giveth; 
Praised be the Lord, our God, 
In whose great name we boast, 
The Father. God the Son, 
And God the Holy Ghost. 



MONDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. 

The terrors of death are fallen upon me. Ps. 55: 4. 
Christ should through death destroy him that had the power 
of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through 
the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bond- 
age. Heb. 2: 14. 15. 

Jesus has by His death delivered us from eternal 
death, the death of the soul, consequently also from the 
fear of this death. But the body must pay the wages 
of sin: it must die. Even though by a true and living 
faith in Jesus we are sealed with His Spirit and certain 
of eternal life — because the Lord says, "Whosoever be- 
lieveth on me shall never die, but have eternal life," and 
even though the body die, yet shall he live,— we must 
nevertheless walk through the valley of death. This 



200 

valley of death has not only caused David terror, but 
many other great men whose faith and piety can not 
be questioned have feared and trembled so that they 
cried, "The terrors of death are fallen upon me." — The 
Lord leads His own and leads them in ways that are 
beneficial to them ; they must necessarily be beneficial, as 
it is the Lord who leads them. Nothing is so well 
adapted to unveil all the secret things of the human 
heart, now elated, now despondent, as the fear of death ; 
if these peculiarities of the heart can not be taken away 
by other means, the Lord drives them out by the fear 
of death. Thus He trains faith in the best possible 
school. For when death falls upon you with the dark 
and terrible weapons of fear, you will seek a Master 
over death. Where is such a one to be found ? In 
Christ. The fear of death drives you into the arms 
of the Lord of life. Flee to Jesus before you are driven 
to Him. 

Naught shall my soul from Jesus sever, 
Nor life nor death, things high nor low: 
I take Him as my Lord forever, 
My future trust, as He is now; 
My God, for Jesus' sake I pray 
Thy peace may bless my dying day. 



TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. 

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart. 1 
Kings 3: 9. Unite my heart to fear thy name. Ps. 86: 11. 
Incline not my heart to any evil thing. Ps. 141: 4. And I 
will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord. 
Jer. 24: 7. 

He who in earnest and truth desires to be pious and 
happy, does not trust his own heart ; for "the heart is de- 
ceitful above all things" (Jer. iy: g), and inclined to evil 
from youth up. Hence he prays for another heart. And 
God, who has promised to make "all things new," de- 
sires more than all else to renew and change the heart 
of men, because above all He requires a man's heart and 
desires to take possession of it. He has invited Himself 
and promised to make His abode in your heart (John 



201 

14: 23). But He cannot enter into an old, perverted 
heart, and remain therein. Therefore, He must first 
prepare your heart for Himself, just as a man makes 
his house ready before he moves into it. Let this inspire 
you with courage and strengthen your confidence: God 
is willing to grant your prayer for a new and obedient 
heart. His promise,' "I will give it to you," is older than 
your prayer, "Give it to me." More than two thousand 
years ago He has promised what you now pray for. 
Even before you asked it, He was ready to give it. 
Therefore, set about it in earnest and implore Him until 
you receive and feel a, new heart within you and the old 
heart can no more be found. 

Holy Spirit, all divine, 
Dwell within this heart of mine; 
Cast down every idol throne, 
Reign supreme, and reign alone. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. 

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his 
hand, and meted out heaven with the span — — — and 
weighed the mountains in scales. — Behold, the na- 
tions are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the 
small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as 

a very little thing. — It is he that sitteth upon the 

circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grass- 
hoppers. — — — Hast thou not known? hast thou not 
heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of 
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? Is. 40: 
12-28. 

The greatness of the Lord is indescribable and in- 
comprehensible. However sublimely Isaiah speaks of it, 
it is yet only a drop in the ocean, a grain of sand among 
the worlds. Who would think that He, concerning whom 
the prophet here speaks, is the same one whom he in 
the fifty-third chapter describes in a far different man- 
ner? And yet even on the cross He is none other than 
He who sits upon the circle of the earth and encom- 
passes heaven and earth. Even as our Savior's great- 
ness, omnipotence and sublimity must inspire awe — for 
we are but dust as against Him — so must that which 



202 

He has wrought for us in the flesh, as described in the 
chapter of Isaiah just mentioned, fill us with confidence, 
love, praise and joy. Behold, the great God, who' mea- 
sures the waters "in the hollow of His hand," and metes 
out heaven "with the span," stretches forth His hands 
and allows them to be pierced for our sake. He, before 
whom all nations are as a drop in a bucket, gives His 
last drop of blood for them, that He might by His blood 
and death draw them all to Himself and win them. 
What are we to admire the more — His exaltation or His 
humiliation? Which are we to worship the more — His 
power or His love? Undoubtedly both with like joy 
and thanksgiving. All that He is, He is for us and will 
continue to be for us forever ; for His power and love do 
not become weary, neither do they faint. 

Holy Ghost, with light divine, 
Shine upon this heart of mine; 
Chase the shades of night away, 
Turn my* darkness into day. 

Let me see my Savior's face, 
Let me all His beauties trace; 
Show those glorious truths to me, 
Which are only known to Thee. 



THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. 

For in many things we offend all. James 3: 2. Thou 
hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the 
light of thy countenance. Ps. 90: 8. Break off thy sins by 
righteousness. Dan. 4: 27. 

The apostles speak of numerous faults ; the proph- 
ets and the men "after God's heart" speak of iniquities 
and secret sins. Accordingly, every one who lives in 
this mortal flesh feels in himself sin and iniquity and 
there is none clean under the sun. It is therefore a 
reprehensible and dangerous carelessness when a person 
pays so little attention to his heart and mind that he 
regards himself faultless and pure. Such a person, is 
blind and gropes in the dark. Deceiving himself, he 
boasts of his righteousness to his own detriment. He 



203 

who sees faults in himself and through heedlessness suf- 
fers them to exist, confidently pleading these Scripture 
passages, does not know the mind of the apostles and 
of the prophets ; to their own humiliation they honestly 
confessed their faults, not to lull themselves to sleep nor 
to call forth a false security, nor to comfort the sloth- 
ful. To him who strives honestly to become faultless, 
the weakness of the saints is a comfort and a means of 
reassurance, but not a pillow for sloth fulness. "Break 
off thy sins," says the prophet Daniel — and that is in 
fact what all the prophets say — "break oft thy sins by 
righteousness," by the power which in Christ Jesus is 
bestowed upon you. His righteousness and power are 
granted you for nothing, not that you. like the wicked 
servant, are to dig it down into the earth, but that you 
should use it to the gaining of mastery over your sins. 

We stand in deep repentance 
Before Thy throne of love; 
O God of grace, forgive us, 
The stain of guilt remove; 
Behold us while with weeping 
We lift our eyes to Thee, 
And, all our sins subduing, 
Our Father, set us free. 



FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY, 

For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his 
saints; they are preserved for ever. Ps. 37: 28. But the 
Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from 
evil. 2 Thes. 3: 3. Cfr. 1 Pet. 1: 5. Teach me, O Lord, the 
way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give 
me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall 
observe it with my whole heart. Ps. 119: 33. 34. 

Let it be your daily prayer that by the power of 
God through faith you may be "preserved" unto that 
salvation which is prepared for you. Who shall be able 
to preserve himself, unless he advance in the Lord and 
in the power of His might, and continue through prayer 
and supplication in constant touch with Him who has 
begun "a good work" in him, and who must also "per- 
form" it? (Phil, i : 6). Do not, however, say in a flippant 



204 

manner, "But I cannot preserve myself; the Lord must 
do it." Yes, God must do it. He can do it and He 
will do it; but He will not preserve you, if you, uncon- 
cerned about your salvation, neglect to watch and pray 
lest you fall into temptation. The Lord preserves His 
saints who earnestly and zealously pursue holiness. God 
does not forsake those who do not forsake Him. His 
eyes are upon those whose eyes are upon Him. Those 
who grasp and hold His hand are held by His hand. 
They are His saints ; they are preserved for ever. But 
the secure, the heedless and drowsy saints, who, instead 
of preparing their lamps and supplying themselves with 
oil, sleep or amuse themselves, are not "preserved." They 
will remain standing without when the Bridegroom en- 
ters into His chamber. 

Myself I cannot save, 

Myself I cannot keep; 

But strength in Thee I surely have, 

Whose eyelids never sleep. 



SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. 

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one 
another, even as also ye do. 1 Thes. 5: 11. These things 
speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Tit. 2: 15. 
O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Ps. 

119: 5. 

There is nothing more shameful and offensive than 
a lukewarm Christian, who shows no earnestness and 
yet wants to be regarded as a Christian ; who< talks much* 
about Christianity without moving a finger to lead a 
true Christian life. God will spew such persons out of 
His mouth ; for the world takes occasion to ridicule all 
Christianity and to fortify itself in ungodliness. Oh, 
that all such Christians would rather renounce Christ 
and the Christian name altogether, who regard them- 
selves exempt from the conduct and earnestness of the 
true Christian. But he who really in true earnestness 
shows himself a genuine Christian in word and deed, 
must also do something for his brethren. He should 
not neglect to warn and reprove his brethren in true 



205 

earnestness for Christ's sake, that the name of God 
and Christ be not blasphemed. You must not forget 
yourself, but let your example and your conversation in 
Christ be an admonition and a sermon of reproof to 
others. The world never lacks earnestness in its under- 
takings, though they all lead to its destruction. Should 
the Christian be lukewarm, sluggish and careless in. his 
eternal affairs and in the sacred cause of God on which 
his own salvation and the glory of God depend? No, 
those who do not take the kingdom of heaven "by vio- 
lence'' will not take it at all. The world, the flesh, and 
the devil will wrest the kingdom out of your hands if 
vou take hold thereof in half-earnest only, if you do not 
grasp and hold it fast with heroic faithfulness. 

A charge to keep I have, 
A God to glorify; 

A never-dying soul to save, 
And fit it for the sky. 

From youth to hoary age, 

My calling to fulfill: 

Oh, may it all my powers engage 

To do my Master's will! 



THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Blessed is he that considereth the poor. Ps. 41: 1. He 
that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Prov. 14: 21. 
To do good ajid to communicate forget not: for with such 
sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb. 13: 16. 

What benefits the Lord has bestowed upon us ! How 
much we have cost Him ! He sacrificed His life-blood 
for us : not only all that He possessed did He sacrifice, 
but He has sacrificed Himself and is sacrificing Himself 
for us forever. He does not demand anything from us 
for Himself; but our poor and needy brethren, whom He 
calls His brethren. His poor, Ave are to give what we 
would gladly give Him, if He should need it. "What 
would you dp if. at the sight of heartrending misery, you 
discovered your Savior in the poor — if He should show 
you the wounds He has received for your sake — if He 
were to say to you. ''Behold, this have I done for you 



206 

when I saw you lying in your blood ; what have 
you done for me?" Tell me, what would you do if you 
saw and heard the Savior bodily in the poor? Then 
do it even now ; for His word must be as important to 
you as His person. He who does good to the suffering, 
plants for himself a paradise, a garden, the fruits of 
which will refresh him in time of need. Every charita- 
ble deed is a seed sown for eternity, which will not fail 
to bear fruit. Plant daily at least one tree in this gar- 
den ; in a year you will have three hundred and sixty-five 
trees; at last you will have a large orchard. However, 
do not set out your plants with the purpose of pleasing 
yourself only. Let not your left hand know what your 
right hand has planted. 

Thy face, with reverence and with love, 
We in Thy poor would see; 
O may we minister to them, 
And in them, Lord, to Thee! 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

And the Lord direct your hearts unto the love of God, 
and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thes. 3: 5. In 

all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God 

— by love unfeigned. 2 Cor. 6: 4-6. 

The most beautiful attachment of the heart, and one 
which St. Paul desires all to have, is that which has the 
love of God and the patience of Christ as its object. 
Any other inclination of the heart is perverted. Exam- 
ine yourself to find what the object of your heart is. 
What do you wish the most and most intensely? What 
things do you busy yourself with most and oftenest? 
Who is it that really lives in your heart? What, as 
a rule, goes in and out of your heart? What causes 
your heart the keenest sorrow, and what causes it to 
rejoice the most? Ask your heart often these questions 
in prayer and supplication. Then you will learn to 
know its true bent. You will understand if it is turned 
to the love of God and the patience of Christ or to the 
love of the world, love of self, love of money, love of 
honor or of carnal lust. If vou are aware of a false 



207 

inclination in your heart, a perverted disposition to 
objects aside from God and Christ, then weep over your 
misery, and pray incessantly to Christ that He may give 
your heart the predilection for His love and cross. The 
patience of Christ is His willing suffering and death for 
us, His obedience unto death, which should make us 
patient and obedient. Do, not paint your love in fine 
colors, that is, do not plume yourself with a hypocrit- 
ical love of the tongue, but pray God for an unpainted, 
unfeigned, honest love, which shows itself no less ardent 
and active inwardly than, outwardly and which in a 
straight course is directed toward God and Christ alone. 

Uphold me in the doubtful race, 
Nor suffer me again to stray; 
Strengthen my feet, with steady pace 
Still to press forward in Thy way, 
That all my powers, with all their might, 
In Thy sole glory may unite. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

He that saith that he abideth in him ought himself also 
so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2: 6. Herein is our 
love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day 
of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 
John 4: 17. 

He who says, "The Lord is my strength and right- 
eousness," must let the righteousness and strength of 
Christ, in which he believes, become apparent in his 
life and conduct, that his life and deeds shall not give 
the lie to that which he professes with his mouth. Many 
glory in the righteousness of Christ, but few possess it 
and show it in their deeds. St. Paul says, "For as many 
of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on 
Christ" (Gal. 3: 27). But then Christ must also be 
seen. If you have put on the garment of Christ's right- 
eousness, where is it? Show it to me. If you say, 
"Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my 
glorious dress," you must also be beautiful, as beautiful 
to look upon as Christ. Everybody must be able to see 



208 

it and say, "He has put on and walks in the gar- 
ment of Christ's righteousness; there is no longer a 
single thread of the soiled garment of the world, of the 
coat contaminated by the flesh, of the fig-leaves af Adam, 
upon him." Oh, tKat we would not play with words 
without heart and repeat professions without truth and 
the assent of the heart ! Oh, that we would not put on 
an imaginary robe, a false faith of the mouth! Oh, 
that we would not appropriate and count our own that 
which we do not possess, which we cannot prove to be 
ours by our deeds, and which no eye can discover in us ! 
Vain talk will not be a lasting garment, but a cobweb, in 
which we can not stand before God. Oh, that we might 
lay hold on Christ and His righteousness, clothe our 
heart, mind and conduct therein, live and die therein! 

Father of eternal grace, 
Glorify Thyself in me! 
Meekly beaming in my face, 
May the world Thine image see. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear 
not: behold, your God will come with vengeaxice, even God 
with a recompense; he will come and save you, Is. 35: 4. 
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak 
ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her 
warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. Is. 
40: 1. 2. 

This is the Gospel for the poor, "fearful/' and sor- 
rowful souls who mourn because of sin and struggle 
against faint-heartedness and despair; it is not a Gospel 
for gay and reckless sinners, nor for secure, lukewarm 
and slothful Christians, who generally appropriate all 
the comforting passages in the Scriptures, which, how- 
ever, do not concern them, in order that they may con- 
tinue to sleep quietly, remain secure arid reassure them- 
selves with a false consolation. But for those who 
earnestly struggle against faults and sins, whose con- 
science is bruised, and who will not accept consolation, 
one can not often enough repeat these comforting pas- 



209 

sages to inspire them with courage. Yes, dear bruised 
and broken soul, take courage ; confidence in your 
infinitely kind Commiserator is becoming to you ; 
that saves you ; that is pleasing to God. Your despon- 
dency and faint-heartedness cause Him neither glory nor 
joy and bring certain death to your soul and body. Be 
bold for once! Throw yourself into His arms who in 
the above quoted passages so kindly invites you and 
comforts you with such divine gentleness. Cast yourself 
into the open arms of your Sympathizer, which are 
stretched out to you in these words. Do not by despon- 
dency, hopelessness and despair rush into the claws of 
the enemy and murderer of your soul, who with fearful 
thoughts only desires to destroy you and to drag you 
down to himself into the pit. Rather rush into the sea 
of God's mercy, of Christ's love and grace, which is 
deep enough, great, broad and high enough, to receive 
even you, wash you, cleanse you, and make you happy. 

His Holy Spirit dwelleth 

Within my willing heart, 

Tames it when it rebelleth, 

And soothes the keenest smart. 

He crowns His work with blessing, 

And helpeth me to cry, 

"My Father!" without ceasing. 

To Him who reigns on high. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I would go through them, I would burn them together, 
Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make 
peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. Is. 27: 
4. 5. I am thy shield, and thy exeeding great reward. Gen. 
15: 1. He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Ps. 
18: 30. Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my suppli-, 
cations. Ps, 31: 22. 

The believing "nevertheless," has been the shield of 
all the prophets and apostles, of all cross-bearers and 
soldiers of the Lord, by which they have broken and 
turned aside all the darts of temptation that would 
make us weary and faint-hearted, Says David in Ps. 
73 : 23, "Nevertheless I am continually with Thee, 



210 

(O Lord) ;" and in verse 26, "My flesh and my 
heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, 
and my portion forever." Thus also does Isaiah ex- 
claim, "Though there be war everywhere, in me, with- 
out and within me, nevertheless He will bring me 
peace." Though at every moment I seem to sink, nev- 
ertheless He will uphold me if I only trust in Him. The 
Lord Himself calls to us through all the prophets: 
Fear not in the terrible storms and dangers of life; 
"Fear thou riot, for I am with thee : be not dismayed ; 
for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea, I 
will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right 
hand of my righteousness" (Is. 41: 10). Oh, His 
hand will not let go of you, only hold it fast! There 
is no abyss so deep that it can not bring you out ; 
there is no mountain so high that it can not lift it 
away or carry you across. When all the troubles of 
life are past, He will Himself be your "exceeding great 
reward," as now with His powerful arm He is your 
"buckler." 

Every human tie may perish, 
Friend to friend unfaithful prove; 
Mothers cease their own to cherish, 
Heaven and earth at last remove: 
But no changes 
Can attend Jehovah's love. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellow- 
ship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1: 9. With 
the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemp- 
tion. Ps. 130: 7. 

In temptation we cannot realize the fulness of grace 
which is opened to us in Christ. It is greater than any 
mortal can believe or imagine. Who can fathom the 
depths of the sea? Who can measure the heights of 
heaven? Yet the sea is not a drop compared with the 
fulness of the grace of God in Christ. His mercy is 
higher than the heavens. But in the hour of temptation, 
in the hot battle with the world and sin, the fulness of 



211 

His grace is not seen nor perceived. Then grace seems 
so far away, that the mountains of God appear to us 
as grains of sand, and the sea of the fulness of His 
grace as a drop. Or, even if one believes in His faith- 
fulness and mercy, yet he cannot apply it to himself and 
appropriate it, though he may do so in regard to others. 
Even then the Spirit helps our infirmities and shows 
us the open door of grace if only we pray and 
knock at the door. If the heart be upright, it will 
find this door ; it will be delivered from anxiety 
and comforted. Often secret plots lie hidden in the 
heart; secret ties, from which the heart does not 
wish to be severed, and one remains a captive. He 
who uprightly, with all his heart and without re- 
serve, surrenders himself to grace, desiring wholly 
to belong to the Lord, finds grace at once. But he 
who holds the tie with one hand, however much 
he may wish to break them with the other ; whose will 
is divided, desires in reality to remain in his bonds, and 
grace cannot make him free against his will. Surrender 
yourself wholly ; then Christ and His grace will sur- 
render to you in all fulness. 

And though it tarry till the night, 

And round till morning waken, 

My heart shall ne'er mistrust Thy might, 

Nor count itself forsaken. 

Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed, 

Ye of the Spirit born indeed, 

Wait for your God's appearing. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. 
4: 8. Faint not when thou art rebuked of him. Heb. 12: 5. 
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord. 
Jonah 2: 7. 

The apostles and prophets also know and speak of 
fears and temptations to become despondent. You be- 
lieve it impossible that such men, who were guided 
immediately by the Spirit of God, also must experience 
such things. You think that after you have begun to 



212 

love the Lord you shall know no fear; that He will 
carry you upon His hands. This He does, even in the 
midst of your fear and anxiety. What would otherwise 
become of you ? A Christian must frequently experience 
anxiety — that is unavoidable. But he shall never fall in- 
to utter despondency. But if you are near to despair, 
then remember the Lord, as Jonah did, who also was 
troubled at heart when he was in the deep — in the belly 
of the fish. But he turned his thoughts to the Lord who< 
is no less able to save in the deep than on solid land ; 
who has the strength to 'help just as well in the belly of 
the monster as in the quiet chamber. Therefore, even 
though tribulations, want and afflictions have swallowed 
you up, and compassed you about, as the fish did Jonah; 
though you are covered by misfortune and misery as he 
was -covered by the billows of the sea, turn your thoughts 
toward the Lord who also was afraid (Luke 12: 50), 
and who says to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be 
strong, fear not" (Is. 35: 4). 

Almighty is the Lord most holy, 
His least word is with power endowed 
To set on high the poor and lowly, 
And cast to earth the rich and proud. 
Most wondrous work God doeth when 
He humbleth or exalteth men. 



THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger 
shut up his tender mercies? Ps. 77: 9. The mercy of the 
Lord endureth forever. 2 Chron. 5: 13. Great are thy ten- 
der mercies, O Lord. Thy mercy endureth for ever. Ps. 

119: 156; 136: 26. 

However convinced David was that the mercy of God 
was unbounded and that His grace and "mercy endureth 
forever," he nevertheless often fell into such moods that 
it seemed to him that God's mercy had come to an end, 
and that His grace and mercy had turned away from 
him. When the Lord" leads )^ou, beloved, in like ways — 
when He hides His face from you or shows Himself 
unkind and angry — do not lose courage. The most in- 
timate friends of God have had to experience the same. 



213 

Therefore, speak to Him as they did, and express and 
disclose to Him what your heart feels. If you 
must say to Him to-day, "Are Thy tender mercies gone 
forever?" to-morrow or some other time you will not 
be able sufficiently to praise His mercy; the Lord will 
put a new song upon your lips and at length you shall 
feel constrained to exclaim, "His mercy endureth for- 
ever !" If you have once acknowledged and experienced 
this, then think upon it and hold it fast in faith, even 
when you do not feel it — when you feel the reverse. 
You believe that the sun shines and continues to» shine 
even when by an eclipse it is covered w T ith a dark veil. 
Likewise the Lord is always the same, even though He 
should seven times a day appear different to you. Trust 
in His word and not in that which presents itself to 
your senses. 

God will have it that we ask, 

And it shall be given ; 

Who pray alway, alway bask 

In the grace of heaven. 

Ere they plead 

Will He heed, 

Strengthen, keep, defend them, 

And deliverance send them. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

• 
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin 
is covered. Ps. 32: 1. Happy is that people, whose 
God is the Lord. Ps. 144: 15. Blessed is the man that 
trusteth in him — — — that maketh the Lord his trust. 
Ps. 34: 8; 40: 4. Blessed are the undefiled in the way — 
that keep his testimonies. Ps. 119: 1. 2. 

To be well and happy is something which all men 
desire ; but men do not seek health and happiness where 
they are to be found. Before a person has received the 
forgiveness of sins from God in Christ and testimony 
and confirmation thereof by His Spirit, he can nowhere 
be really well ; he cannot be really happy. To receive 
forgiveness and grace is the door and the beginning of 
true well-being. If he progress in grace ; if he allows 



214 

his Redeemer to heal all his diseases ; strengthen him in 
all his weaknesses ; enlighten him on his dark path ; 
cleanse and sanctify him by His Spirit; if he learn to 
remain in Jesus, to walk perfectly and blamelessly in 
Him, then the good and kind Savior will show the 
treasures of His grace, the blessings of His salvation, 
and make him "abundantly satisfied with the fatness of 
his house ;" He will let the soul daily more and more 
taste of His kindness ; He will bestow upon him the 
divine nature, the clean, holy mind, and make him like 
unto His own image in righteousness, blessedness and 
glory. Then the soul has found true health, true hap- 
piness, that shall not be taken away. The soul rests in 
the arms of Jesus. Who shall tear it from Christ? Who 
shall rob it of its joy? No one shall stir the soul up, 
nor awake it (Cant. 2:7). 

The man is ever blest, 
Who shuns the sinner's ways; 
Among their counsels never stands, 
Nor takes the scorner's place. 

But makes the law of God 
His study and delight 
Amid the labors of the day, 
And watches of the night. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. # 

When it pleased God to reveal his Son In me — 

I conferred not with flesh and blood. Gal. 1: 15. 16. 

The Spirit of truth shall glorify me. John 16: 14. We all, 
with open face beholding the glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 
3: 18. 

We can not truly learn to know Christ by the aid of 
letters and human instruction ; we can not comprehend 
Him with our reason. We can not grasp Him in any 
other way than by the Father's revealing Him and the 
Spirit's glorifying Him to us. The Holy Ghost must 
picture Christ before the eye of the soul as He dies upon 
the cross for us ; He must make clear to us of what 
significance the death on the cross is to us. Then we 






2i5 

behold the glory and love of God with open face in 
beautiful splendor, the Holy Ghost having removed the 
veil that lies upon our natural understanding and 
opened our heart to His illuminating rays. But he to 
whom Christ is thus revealed, confers, like St. Paul, 
no longer with flesh and blood, but hastens without any 
further questioning and surrenders himself with all that 
he is and has to Him who has given him Himself, and 
the soul remains His forever; oh, where Christ, the Sav- 
ior of the world, has taken up His abode, there such 
questions as these can no longer be asked, "Shall I now 
give up the world, sin and myself ? What will the world 
say? What will this one or that one think?" Then the 
soul has no other longing, no other desire, no other 
question but this, "How can I please my Savior? How 
can I incessantly enjoy Him? How can I always be 
with Him? How can I always have the joy of pos- 
sessing Him such as He in His love and as He in 
kindness reveals Himself to me?" 

I thank Thee, uncreated Sun, 

That Thy bright beams on me have shined; 

I thank Thee who hast overthrown 

My foes, and healed my wounded mind; 

I thank Thee Whose enlivening voice 

Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I will be glad in the Lord. Ps. 104: 34. I will bless the 
Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my 
mouth. Ps. 34: 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who 
healeth all thy diseases. Ps. 103: 2. 3. 

Happy are you if out of the fulness of the heart 
you can say, "I will be glad in the Lord." Blessed are 
you if your heart has reason to be glad in the Lord; 
if not only your mouth is 'full of praise and joy, but 
if also your heart is full of the grace and mercy of the 
Lord so that the mouth speaks out of the fulness of 
the heart. If He has bestowed upon you the forgive- 
ness of sins and given in your heart a letter and a seal 



2l6 

thereof which are not antiquated nor rendered unread- 
able by new sins and acts of infidelity, but which are 
renewed and refreshed every day by new evidences 
of grace from the Lord. Then the Holy Ghost daily 
testifies that He has forgiven you all your sins ; and not 
that only, but He also heals all your diseases ; His blood 
cleanses you from all your uncleanness. Who then shall 
hinder your joy? Who will refuse to join you in sing- 
ing praises? Never forget this grace but remind your- 
self of it every day. There are many who want the 
forgiveness of their sins, but are unwilling to be healed 
from their diseases. Therefore their joy can not be 
perfect. God grant that such joy be not false and hypo- 
critical ! The Savior desires both to forgive and to heal. 
His name "Jesus" means the Savior, the Healer. He 
cures; He restores the soul to health (Ps. 23: 3). He 
who does not allow himself to be healed from his dis- 
eases after his sins have been forgiven, is in danger of 
forgetting "that he was purged from his old sins," and 
is "blind" (2 Pet. 1:9). 

Oh, that all may seek and find 
Every good in Christ combined! 
Him let Israel still adore, 
Trust Him, praise him evermore. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is 
my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was 
passed, Jesus was found alone. Luke 9: 35. 36. 

All the world ought to listen to this voice coming 
from the skies. But people find it hard to turn their 
heads and ears upward, because they are charmed and 
captivated by the voices which they hear from below. 
The world rings too much in their ears. They cannot 
heed the voice of God. As yonder by the Jordan and 
before all the people (Mat. 3: 17; John 12: 28), so 
God here solemnly declares to the disciples that 
Jesus is His well-beloved Son, a Preacher to be 
heard and believed above all other preachers. But 



217 

the gracious God Himself,, as all His messengers, 
must complain, "Who hath believed our report?" God 
has preached from heaven and given His Son a 
wonderful testimony ; He has offered Him to the 
world ; He has set Him apart and confirmed Him 
as a Preacher and a Teacher, and, behold, the world 
reviled Him and crucified Him as a. blasphemer. He 
whom God Himself has declared to be His Son? Yes, 
and until this day the world has been unwilling to hear 
the Son of God. Who, then, is to preach to the world, 
since it will not hear this Preacher who preaches from 
such an exalted pulpit, from the skies, who speaks kindly 
and lovingly? Will you not, dear reader, believe the 
Father's preaching concerning the Son? Will you not 
follow the word and drawing of the Father and go to 
the Son, as it is written, "Every man that hath heard, 
and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me?". (John 
6: 45). Will you not love Him above all things, whom 
the Father loves above all things? Will you not 
receive Him since the Father offers Him to you and 
bestows Him upon you from heaven ? When the 
disciples heard the heavenly sermon "they saw no 
man, save Jesus only" (Mat. 17: 8). Moses had de- 
parted ; Elias had departed — they knew with certainty 
that the Father spoke to them of the Son, and not of 
Moses and Elias. They were to hear the Son only ; they 
should preach the Son, not Moses. He who is willing 
to be a hearer, may daily hear the Father's sermon ; 
for the Father always testifies concerning the Son and 
draws men to the Son. Oh, that we might hear the Son 
and follow Him ! 

Beautiful Savior! 

Lord of the nations! 

Son of God and Son of man! 

Glory and honor, 

Praise, adoration, 

Now and forevermore be Thine! 



2l8 

FRIDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions. Ps. 132: 
1. Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy 
bottle: are they not in thy book? Ps. 56: 8. Thou feedest 
them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to 
drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our 
neighbors; and our ejiemies laugh among themselves. Turn 
us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; 
and we shall be saved. Ps. 80: 5-7. 

As we see from these complaints, the Lord has 
always allowed afflictions and trials to come upon His 
elect; they have been fed "with the bread of tears." 
This must not mislead any soul, but rather establish and 
comfort it. Tell your distress to' the Lord, as David did 
when captured by the Philistines. He prayed the Lord 
to note his flight ; to see his sorrows ; to take account 
of his woes ; to put his tears into His "bottle," that they 
might not be shed in vain. He prayed that through the 
mercy of the Lord a harvest of joy might follow the 
sowing of tears. Thus prayed these old heroes of faith. 
They were fully convinced that God counts all tears and 
will not let any of them be shed in vain. The Lord 
keeps close watch over our afflictions. It is a great 
comfort in afflictions to lift up the eyes to Him who 
sees all things and to say in faith, "Thou, Lord, seeest 
me." No man can fully understand him who' is af- 
flicted ; the Lord alone can comprehend. He understands 
the glances you send up to Him. Do not trust in man 
nor in the comfort that men give. Seek the face of 
the Lord ; that alone helps, comforts and strengthens ; 
that alone sweetens and makes up for all afflictions. 

Sing, pray, and do as God hath told thee; 
Be diligent in all thy ways; 
And, trusting Him to bless, uphold thee, 
Success shall crown thee all thy days. 
The Lord will not forsake the one 
Who puts his trust in Him alone. 






219 

SATURDAY AFTER THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain 
thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Ps. 
55: 22. For the needy shall Jiot alway be forgotten; the 
expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Ps. 9: 18. 

We can easily let go of many things and throw them 
away; but to cast anything upon the Lord is something 
we do not understand, or at any rate understand very 
poorly. According to this passage as well as other 
words from the mouth of our Savior, He stands before 
us, beholds us in our misery and anxiety, fear and 
trembling. This cuts Him to the quick and He cries 
out to us, "My child, only come hither with all that 
causes you pain ; cast the burden that oppresses you 
upon me ; I see you cannot carry it." But we will not, 
we can not separate from the hated burden ; we do not 
give Him what we ourselves can not bear. We hold 
that fast which He in kindness would take away from 
us. Are we not perverted and obstinate to our own 
hurt? But he who has learned the art of casting every- 
thing upon the Lord ; who knows how near He is and 
how willingly He receives all that we lay upon Him, 
remains without fear and anxiety; he trusts in the 
Lord's promises and the infallible consolation of the 
Scriptures. It is impossible for the Lord to forget or 
forsake the afflicted one who trusts in Him. He will 
not forget nor forsake you. He only tries your hope, 
your confidence, and your resignation to the will of 
God. How could you prove your hope and confidence 
if no afflictions befell you? How could your patience 
be developed without exercise, without tribulation? Cast, 
therefore, your sorrows upon Him who keeps hand and 
heart open to take your sorrows from you. Trust in 
Him ; He shall do it. Your sorrow is a bed of thorns 
which you prepare for yourself. Cast yourself into His 
arms and you shall lie upon roses. 

Thou on the lord relv. 
So safe shalt thcu ^o on. 



220 

Fix on His worth thy steadfast eye, 
So shall thy work be done. 

No profit canst thou gain 

By self-consuming care; 

To Him command thy cause; His ear 

Attends the softest prayer. 



THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

None eye pitied thee. — — — And when I passed by 
thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto 
thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. Ezek. 16: 5. 6. 
The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the 
poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 
Is. 29: 19. 

When no one takes pity on us in our misery; when 
the poor soul nowhere finds comfort and rest, then the 
Lord passes by, not as the priest and the Levite, but 
as the Samaritan. As He sees deeper into the wounds of 
your soul than they, and far better knows the danger 
in which you are. He draws near to you with the most 
tender mercy. Does He see you polluted in your own 
blood? Do you bewail and lament your sins with tears 
of blood? It breaks His heart, and He hastens to help 
you and to say to you, "Live. I will ; be thou clean." 
And what He says comes to pass ; what He commands 
is accomplished. Your ears, that heretofore have been 
deaf, shall hear; your eyes, that heretofore have been 
blind, shall see how kindly He stands before your heart, 
how lovingly He speaks the word of peace. Your heart, 
heretofore closed to all comfort, will open, and His 
life-giving consolation will enter and impart to you life 
and joy in such fulness that you shall say, "It is too 
much, O Lord, it is too much ; I am not worthy of all 
the tender mercies and all the faithfulness which Thou 
bestowest upon me." Then the poor soul has peace in 
the Lord ; He does not reject sinners that cry to Him. 
Your heart shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, 
who forgiveth all thy iniquities and healeth all thy 
diseases. 



221 

Ye sinners, come, 'tis mercy's voice; 
The gracious call obey. 
Mercy invites to heavenly joys, 
And can you yet delay? 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy 
God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither 
shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall bs thine 
everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be 
ended- Thy people also shall be all righteous. Is. 60: 19. 21. 

Here all things are forever changeable ; now joy, 
now sorrow. Now w T e walk in the light of the midday 
sun in perfect peace, in blessed nearness to the Lord ; 
again all is dark and a black cloud hides from us the 
nearness of the Lord. Sin breaks loose upon us and 
threatens to devour us. We journey here as weary 
wanderers in a strange and dangerous land, which is 
filled with robbers and murderers. We long for our 
home-country . where only the righteous dwell ; where 
"mercy and truth are met together ; righteousness and 
peace have kissed each other" (Ps. 85: 10) ; where the 
sun shall no more go down, and where the Lord shall be 
our "everlasting light." Still we might even here enjoy 
more lasting quiet, and a more undisturbed peace, if our 
eyes were turned more to Him who shines as the ever- 
lasting sun in our soul, who is our light even in the 
midst of darkness (Micah 7:8). It is only the fickle- 
ness of our heart and the weakness of our faith which 
cause this change in us ; we do not remain unchange- 
ably in our Savior who is forever faithful and un- 
changeable. He who believes in Him has the unchange- 
able comfort, which always sustains his courage, "The 
Lord shall be unto us an everlasting light." 

Like the sun's reviving ray, 
Make Thy love, with tender glow, 
All our coldness melt away, 
Warm and cheer us forth to go, 
Gladly serve Thee and obey 
All our life's short earthly day! 



222 

TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence 
in man. Ps. 118: 8. In God is my salvation and my glory: 
the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Ps 

62: 7. 

From first to last the Scriptures exhort us to put 
our trust in God, who is most worthy of our confidence. 
They warn us against putting our trust in man, in 
creatures, yea, they curse him who trust in man, and 
make flesh his arm, while they promise all happiness and 
blessing to him who trust in the Lord (Jer. 17: 5. 7. 8). 
He shall be as a tree planted by the waters and as a 
rock in the sea. We trust, nevertheless, so readily in 
man, look constantly around for human stays and forget 
the Lord and His arm as though He did no> exist,' as 
though He had not promised us anything. Thus hard 
does man find it to trust in that which is eternally 
established, the unchangeable, which he does not see. 
He trusts in the straw that he sees ; he leans rather upon 
a reed that he can grasp with the hand, and which 
breaks and cuts his hand before he has really leaned 
upon it. But he who has learned to trust in the Lord, 
who makes a path in the sea and a way in the deep 
waters, stands in the storm as a rock in the ocean, as- 
saulted and persecuted, and yet immovable upon the 
Foundation which can not be shaken. He that does not 
look at the danger, nor the rolling billows of tribulation, 
but at the Pilot, who has yet never suffered shipwreck, 
whose ship yet never has been destroyed, stands fast in 
God as if there were nothing but Jesus and God, no 
danger, no calamity. 

Commit thy way, confiding 

When trials here arise, 

To Him whose hand is guiding 

The tumults of the skies. 

There clouds and tempests, raging, 

Have each their part assigned; 

Will God, for thee engaging, 

No way of safety find? 



223 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth 

in me and I in him. — He hath eter/ial life, and I 

will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 54-56. 

According" to this the Lord's Supper is a real parti- 
cipation in and a true reception of all the fruits of 
the death of Christ or of Jesus Christ Himself. He who 
eats in a living faith eats Jesus, has the life of Jesus, 
Jesus Himself living in him. He lives by and in Christ. 
Thus He Himself has said in John 6: 58. There are, 
however, many who eat the Lord's Supper without be- 
ing fed and strengthened, because they do not eat in 
living faith. That which lives hungers after food and 
must eat or die. Thus also in regard to the living 
faith : Jesus is its food after which it hungers ; in the 
eating thereof it lives and is sustained ; without it faith 
must die. Where there is no hunger after Jesus, there 
is no faith, no life in faith, consequently no true eating 
of Him; there are only words, thought and imagination, 
only an outward, bodily eating, by which the soul is 
not fed nor nourished. One who is dead does not know 
how to eat nor can he eat. He who is alive and hungry 
does not need to be taught how to eat. The faith which 
is dead asks in a surprised and sneering tone, What does 
it mean to eat Jesus? It means precisely what Jesus 
says in John 6 : 57, and as St. Paul says in Eph. 5:14, 
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, 
and Christ shall give thee light." Christ will show 
you what it means to eat Himself through faith, and have 
Him dwelling in thy heart. "You will become hungry af- 
ter Him, and the hunger will teach you to eat. There- 
fore, the Lord's Supper has always been called the Sac- 
rament of the Living, because, as a spiritual food, it 
presupposes spiritual life to be nourished and sustained 
by this food. Where there is no life, no food is needed. 
The dead cannot eat. Baptism awakens the dead; the 
Lord's Supper nourishes, sustains and strengthens those 



224 

who are awake and living. Verily, in the Lord's Supper 
He is as near to us as He can possibly be on earth. 

We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread, 
And long to feast upon Thee still; 
We drink of Thee, the Fountain Head, 
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



The Lord will not cast off for ever. But though he cause 
grief, yet will he have compassion according to the mul- 
titude of his mercies. Lam. 3: 31. 32. Out of the depths 
have I cried UJito thee, O Lord. Ps. 130: 1. a 

He that would ascend to the heights must first go 
down to the depths. He who. would go to heaven must 
first go through a hell. Scarcely any "one gets through 
this world without great tribulation. Have not St. Paul 
and all the elect, in the old covenant and in the new, 
had to enter into the kingdom of God through much 
tribulation? Must not Christ enter into all the depths 
and abysses of human suffering? Must not His soul be 
sorrowful unto death? Even though His sufferings were 
chiefly as an atonement for our sins, in that God permit- 
ted the trespasses of us all to meet Him, the sorrows 
of Jesus are a source of consolation to us. Christ's suf- 
ferings are the more comforting to us in proportion as 
we believe that by His sorrows He has turned away 
eternal sorrow from us all, and that we in all our sorrow 
may turn to Him with all confidence. Therefore, when 
you are sorrowful and lie in the depths as David did, 
join your Savior on the Mount of Olives. He is able 
to comfort you; He knows what a sorrowful heart 
means. But He also causes you sorrow that you may 
know what He has suffered for you and how highly 
He has loved you. He will not let you die in your 
grief; He will take pity on you. Only seek Him and 
you shall find an end of sorrow. 



225 

O draw me, Savior, after Thee! 
So shall I run and never tire. 
With gracious words still comfort me 
Be Thou my Hope, my sole Desire. 
Free me from every weight: nor fear, 
Nor sin can come, if Thou art here. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast 
done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! Ps. 71: 19. 
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins. Gal. 
1: 4. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works 
which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us- 
ward; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; if I 
would declare and speak of- them, they are more than can 
be numbered. Ps. 40: 5. 

All the works of God are "high" and incomprehen- 
sible. But the greatest work and wonder which He has 
done for us children of men is and remains forever that 
He, the Creator of all things, humbled Himself and 
made Himself a surety and a ransom for His creatures 
who were lost in debt. To create all the worlds cost 
Him only a word, "Let there be!" and they stood forth. 
But to regenerate the perverted creatures and make 
them good and new, cost Him the deepest humiliation in 
sinful flesh, the worst disgrace, the most bitter pain and 
the most ignominious death. A soul who contemplates 
his Savior's love upon the cross, who beholds Him in 
His disgrace and in the throes of death, cannot often 
enough exclaim, "Lord, who is ljke unto Thee ! What 
can be compared with Thee ! Many are Thy wonder- 
ful works which Thou hast done and Thy thoughts 
which are to us-ward." We cannot reckon them and 
yet we cannot be silent concerning them ; we cannot 
praise them as they deserve to be praised ; and yet — who 
should praise anything but these great works of God, 
before which all that is called great becomes as naught 
and all that is esteemed glorious vanishes as a dream? 

From all that dwell below the skies 
Let the Creator's praise arise; 
Let the Redeemer's name be sung 
Through every land, by every tongue. 



226 

SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: 
this do in remembrance of me. This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood: this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in 
remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, 
and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come. 
1 Car. 11: 24-26. 

It was a matter of great importance to our Savior 
so to imprint Himself upon our hearts and memories 
that we should never forget Him. He therefore gave 
what no one before Him has given and no one after 
Him will give in remembrance of himself: His flesh and 
blood, even Himself. Who' is it that gives his friend 
himself as a remembrance and as a token of his love? 
The Lord's Supper should not only be a memorial meal 
to us, not only a solemn remembrance of His death, but 
something still more, namely, a means of nourishment, 
a close communion with the life and death of Jesus and 
a renewal thereof in the inner man. He that vividly 
realizes and confidently believes: "This body which is 
given for you ; this blood which is shed for you/' is a 
pledge of the life of Jesus in me, a pledge of my eter- 
nal life in and with Him in His Kingdom ; my food 
and sustenance on this earthly pilgrimage ; this Supper 
is a living and visible token of my reconciliation with 
God ; of the forgiveness of my sins ; of my fellowship 
with Christ and the Father ; of my brotherhood with all 
the elect members of the body of Jesus — "for as we 
many eat the one bread we are all one body ;" — this man- 
na which comes down from heaven gives me eternal life 
and sustains it in me ; this bread of life preserves me 
from eternal death and shall once quicken my body: 
he who in a living manner thinks and believes all this 
and even more — for no one can utter all that is con- 
tained in this testament — he who* has eaten* and enjoyed 
it and transformed it into pith and substance — how rich, 
blessed, and strong his soul becomes thereby! 

Lord, grant me that thus strengthened 
With heavenly food, while here 



22.J 

My course on earth is lengthened 

I serve with holy fear* 

And when Thou callest my spirit 

To leave this world below, 

I enter, through Thy merit, 

Where joys unmingled flow. 



THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Bear ye one another's burdens. Gal. 6: 2. We then that 
are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. Rom. 
15: 1. And be ye ki/id one to another, tenderhearted, for- 
giving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath for- 
given you. Eph. 4: 32. 

What burdens have not we laid upon our Savior! 
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor- 
rows. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us 
all" (Is. 53: 4. 6). How quietly and peacefully the Lamb 
of God walked beneath our burden, not even opening 
His mouth ! He says, "Thou hast made me to serve 
with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniqui- 
ties" (Is. 43: 24). He does not say it in order to 
complain or to reproach us, for He adds immediately 
afterwards, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy 
transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember 
thy sins" (Is. 43: 25). He desires to show us how 
we also are silently to bear the burdens which others by 
their faults lay upon us : we are not to remember them, 
but to forget and forgive all insults. Or shall we re- 
ceive forgiveness from God and not forgive our breth- 
ren who have sinned against us? Shall He not then 
deal with us as He dealt with the servant in the Gospel 
narrative? (Mat. 18: 33. 34). If the burden that others 
lay upon you becomes too heavy, look to the Lamb of 
God and ask, Who has laid this heavy burden upon 
Thee? Who has scourged and wounded Thee? Who 
has slain Thee? And why dost Thou keep so silent and 
suffer so patiently? The answer will then come of 
itself: your duty will be plain. 

Fain I would be as Thou art, 
Give me Thy obedient heart. 
Thou art pitiful and kind: 
Let me have Thy loving mind. 



228 

MONDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

His name shall endure forever: his name shall be con- 
tinued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: 
all nations shall call him blessed. Ps. 72: 17. And it shall 
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the 
Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 21. 

What a source of joy it is that He was called Jesus, 
a Savior, not only for the apostles and the first Chris- 
tians, not only for one people, or for one century; but 
that He forever is called Jesus and remains Jesus, a 
Savior, for all times and eternities, and for all men. 
Though we do not endure, "His name shall endure." 
Let us then continue to believe in His name. He has 
saved us and He will save us, because we believe in His 
name. He will forever save all who call upon Him, who 
bow before Him. Therefore, do not lose courage ; hope 
for yourself and for all men. "His name shall endure 
forever/' that is, His name shall conquer on earth and 
in heaven throughout all eternity. If your heart lives 
in the power of His name and salvation, then you can 
wish, and hope, and confidently pray, that Jesus who 
saves may become known to all, may be believed by all, 
and be eternal salvation to all for whom He died. If 
you love His name and know what it is to you; if it 
inspires you with peace and grace as often as you think 
of it, then you will also desire this salvation for all 
your brethren and for all the world. You will in earnest 
prayer and supplication long for the day of Jesus Christ, 
when He shall be glorified in all His saints and wor- 
shipped by all tongues. 

To Jesus every knee shall bow, 
And every tongue confess Him, 
And we unite with saints in light, 
Our only Lord to bless Him. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 



229 

Heb. 12: 1. 4. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord 
deceitfully. Jer. 48: 10. 

Thus the Lord spoke by Jeremiah when He urged 
war against Moab. He adds, "Cursed be he that keepeth 
back his sword from blood. /Moab shall be spoiled, and 
gone up out of her cities" (Jer. 48: 10. 15), saith the 
King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Since it was 
a matter of such importance to the Lord that the 
Moabites be destroyed, and since He so strongly urged 
the campaign against them, must it not be a matter of 
still greater importance to Him that the Moabites in 
your soul, that is, everything which disturbs the peace 
and quiet of your soul, everything that does not cling 
to the Lord, your sinful nature and worldly-mindedness, 
be destroyed, and that he kingdom of the Lord be 
established in you? If every one who did not fight 
unto blood but was sluggish against the Moabites was 
cursed by the Lord, shall you inherit the blessing if you 
are sluggish in the battle against the world, sin, and 
your own flesh? Every moment the Moabites disturb 
your boundaries, yea, perhaps they have already in- 
vaded your country, your inner man, and rule over you? 
You must take the sword of the Lord and the shield of 
faith and fight without becoming weary, until there shall 
be peace in the land, until Moab shall be destroyed and 
the fortifications of Satan shall be scaled and demol- 
ished. Lukewarmness and slothfulness bring the curse. 
Earnest fighting, unwearied running in the course of the 
battle, bring blessing, peace and salvation. Hear how 
St. Paul reprimands the Hebrews, because they let their 
courage fail them, because they so soon become weary 
and ready to surrender their weapons, while yet they 
had not fought unto blood or shown any real earnest- 
ness. As long as there lives a single Mbabite, a single 
enemy of peace, in your heart, you must not surrender 
your weapons. Slothfulness is the road to hell ; earnest 
battle the road to eternal peace. 

At the sign of triumph 
Satan's host doth flee; 
On then, Christian soldiers, 
On to victory! 



230 

Hell's foundations quiver 
At the shout of praise; 
Brothers, lift your voices, 
Loud your anthems raise! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. 2 Tim. 2: 12. 
Love endureth all things. 1 Cor. 13: 7. Many are the af- 
flictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out 
of them all. Ps. 34: 19. Take the prophets, who have spoken 
in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering afflic- 
tion, and of patience. James 5: 10. 

The Christian is appointed to suffer afflictions in this 
world (i Thes. 3: 3), as eternal joy is appointed for him 
in the life to come. "Think it not strange concerning 
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange 
thing happened unto* you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye 
are partakers of Christ's sufferings ; that, when His glory 
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding 
joy" (1 Pet. 4: 12. 13). He who drinks from the cup 
of affliction, shall drink of the wine of joy hereafter. 
To him who gets a true conception of the joy and 
glory which are prepared for believing cross-bearers, 
and who never loses sight thereof, the burdens of the 
present afflictions, though heavy as lead, will hardly 
seem as a grain of sand compared with the towering 
mountains of divine joy. He is ashamed to dread a 
grain of sand, and not to be able to overcome such an 
insignificant thing; he joins in the song of the apostles 
(2 Cor. 4: 17. 18), and even glories in tribulation, be- 
cause "tribulation worketh patience ; and patience, expe- 
rience ; and experience, hope ; and hope maketh not 
ashamed" (Rom. 5: 3-5). 

To Thee I tell each rising grief, 
For Thou alone canst heal; 
Thy Word can hring a sweet relief 
For every pain I feel. 



23i 

THURSDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh 
unto the Father, but by me. John 14: 6. 

There are many ways, but only one true way. There 
are many words, but little of truth, much of pretence, but 
little of true essence and life among men, because they 
are few whose one and all is Christ. We do not desire 
to be in Christ wholly for fear that we must also walk 
in Him in "that way" which is Himself and which He 
Himself walked. We learn the words without grasping 
"the truth." We speak of "the truth" but do not walk 
in "the truth." We desire as a consolation to have Christ 
upon the tongue but not in the heart as our "life." Is 
this Christianity ? Far from it ! Thus we do not come 
to the Father; in that manner we cannot enter into "life. 
For we do not have "the way, the truth, and the life." 
We do not stand and walk in Jesus ; we have not life 
in us, but only upon our tongue and in our imagina- 
tion. An imagined journey, an unentered way, do .not 
lead us to the destination. If Christ be your "way," 
then walk in Him; otherwise you cannot get any far- 
ther with Him. If Christ be your "truth," then let it 
set you free from sin* (John 8: 32. 36), for it can do it; 
it will and must do it ; otherwise you will not be free, 
you will not come to the Father. If Christ be your 
"life," where then, does He live? ^In you? Do you live 
with Him? If not, then you are dead, even though you 
live ; you will never see the Father. Lay hold on eternal 
life, and walk in the way of truth, that through the Son 
you may come to the Father. 

Dwelling in His presence holy, 
I at length shall reach the place 
Where with all His saints in glory 
I shall see His lovely face; 
Nothing then but bliss forever: 
I will leave my Jesus never. 



232 

FRIDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dis- 
mayed. 1 Chron. 22: 13. For I said in my haste, I am cut 
off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the 
voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee. Ps. 31: 
22. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my com- 
plaint, and make a noise. Ps. 55: 2. 

"Dread," if you cannot do otherwise, but "be not 
dismayed." The prophets dreaded and lamented, as we 
see from the above cited verses; but they also rejoiced. 
The apostles were troubled on every side, yet not dis- 
tressed (2 Cor. 4: 8). Our Savior "began to be sor- 
rowful and very heavy," but He conquered His dread 
and went out to meet His murderers with undaunted 
courage (Mat. 26: 37; John 18: 4). The Gentiles, the 
unbelievers, who are without God, despair, but not so 
the Christians. It may be that they must bear "the ter- 
rors" of God and be "cut off" (Ps. 88 : 16) ; but the Lord 
comforts them when they are weary, that they be not 
"dismayed" (Sir. 17: 20). But they who let their hope 
and confidence fall or throw faith away entirely and no 
longer believe what God has promised in His Word and 
consequently fall away from God, who succumb in the 
spiritual battle, flee and leave the field to the enemy, these 
shall have "their part in the lake which burneth with 
fire and brimstone" (Rev. 21: 8). A Christian must 
therefore, never permit himself to be taken captive by 
dejection and despondency, however dark the outlook 
may be. He may lament with David ; he may weep and 
complain to God as Jeremiah ; only he must not give up 
hope; help will surely come if he be not "dismayed," 
if he cease not in prayer and supplication, hope and 
expectation. It has often seemed to the dearest children 
of God as if He had cast them off, as if His mercy were 
never to return, as if no help were to come. Even for 
them the Lord stayed the help so long that they came 
near losing perseverance. Nevertheless, at length the 
help came, • and the comfort, and the power, and God 
gave them so much greater joy. Let the cause of your 



233 

dread be whatever it may, afflictions, misfortune, per- 
secution, or temptations, or the weakness of the flesh, 
which you so much desire to overcome, without ever 
being able to overcome it, — despair not ; wait and hope 
until help comes. It will surely come, even though you 
must struggle and wait to the end. If you give yourself 
up to despair, you know even now where you belong: 
you are certainly lost. But as long as you wait, there 
is hope of rescue, and salvation is possible. 

Correct, reprove, and comfort me; 
As I have need, my Savior be; 
And if I would from Thee depart, 
Then clasp me, Savior, to Thy heart. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he 
shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed 
before him at his coming. 1 John 2: 28. And he that keepeth 
his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And here- 
by we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath 
given us. 1 John 3: 24; 4: 13. Neither shall evil dwell 
with thee. Ps. 5: 4. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth 
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. 2 John 9. 

All is not done by coming to Jesus and being in 
Jesus : only 'he who "abides" in Him to the end shall be 
saved. When some persons have tasted of the pres- 
ence of Jesus, they consider themselves saved forever. 
They become secure and proud, yea, at last lukewarm 
and cold, and instead of abiding in Jesus, they abide in 
an imaginary and false appropriation of His grace and 
righteousness, or in the empty glory that they have once 
possessed and known Jesus. "Abide," says John, "abide 
in Him." Incessantly you must be partakers of Him ; 
every day perceive Him in your hearts and have Him 
near ; you must daily arouse and renew faith in Him, 
love to Him, communion with Him, and ever seek to 
preserve this living union with Jesus. To this end 
is needed the prayer without ceasing, which Jesus 
and St. Paul so highly recommend. All who have ret- 



234 

mained in Jesus, have also been faithful and enduring 
in prayer. Alas ! a soul is soon awakened and rejoices in 
the coming of Jesus into the heart ; but he does not hold 
Him fast, does not abide in Him. He has found the 
treasure, but does not preserve it. He will not sacrifice 
everything to possess it. He desires to* retain Jesus 
and also the world together with Him. He desires to 
enjoy sensual joys, possessions and honor, besides Jesus; 
desires to be in Christ and at the same time in self. But 
that is impossible. If you remain in yourself and in 
your old conversation, Jesus can not remain in you. 
You must depart from your own self, deny yourself com- 
pletely, and nail the old Adam to the cross. Otherwise 
you cannot be a disciple of Jesus, nor "abide" in Him. 

Be Thou my Strength, be Thou my Way, 
Protect me through my life's short day: 
In all my acts let wisdom guide, 
And keep me, Savior, near Thy side. 



THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when 
God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head, 
and when by his light I walked through darkness; as I was 
in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon 
my tabernacle. Job 29: 2-4. We wait for light, but behold 
obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness- Is. 59: 9. 
The people that walked m darkness have seen a great light: 
they that dwell in the lajid of the shadow of death, upon 
them hath the light shined. Is. 9: 2. 

The ways in which the Lord leads His own are 
often very dark; they can hardly see a step ahead, 
not knowing" where to place the foot. On all sides the 
soul is wrapped in the blackness of night ; no star shines ; 
the sun and the moon are gone down. The road is 
rough, stony and dangerous. Then we think with Job 
of the' months and years gone by with their beautiful 
and glorious illumination when we walked as in broad 
daylight, in the rays from the sun of righteousness. Even 
in the darkness we had sufficient light to walk securely 
and cheerfully. Job had to pass through this night, and 



235 

the Lord helped him through it. The God of Job is 
also your God; only surrender yourself to Him. If 
you do not see anything, yet hold fast in faith His 
hidden hand. His hand holds you though you do not 
see it ; it does not relinquish its hold upon you. Though 
you say with Isaiah, "We wait for light and behold 
obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 
We grope for the wall like the blind" (Is. 59: 9. 10). 
Instead of being gladdened by the expected light, ever 
more darkness breaks in. Yet, fear not ! For "the 
people that walk in darkness see a great light," if they 
wait for the light in faith. The Lord is the same yester- 
day and to-day ; yea, He is forever the same. As He 
was in the youth of my faith, "when His secret was 
upon my tabernacle," even such is He to-day, even 
though darkness now cover my tabernacle. He never 
changes. He remains love, faithfulness and truth, by 
night as by day, in storm as well as in still, clear and 
sunny weather. Do not change your faith and trust. 
He changes not. 

From all my griefs and straits, G Lord! 
Thy mercy sets me free; 
Whilst in the confidence of prayer 
My heart takes hold on Thee. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, 
and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of 
seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach 
of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Is. 30: 
26. If the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more 
doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 
2 Cor. 3: 9. 

They had light even in the old dispensation ; for 
Messiah, Jesus, has shined in all centuries. But this 
was only the dawn, the first blush of day. But in the 
new dispensation, the sun shines in midday splendor. 
Since the time when He was born of a woman, hung 
upon the cross, arose from the dead ; since we know that 
He sits at the right hand of God, and baptizes with 



236 

fire and with the Spirit, it is far different We see 
on the cross infinitely more than the Israelites saw in the 
brazen serpent. True, God spoke also in the past with 
man, but only through His servants. Now He speaks 
with us by His Son. That appeals more to the heart; 
for His sermon of the cross is the most glorious one 
could wish in this sinful world. When the crucified Son 
cries to heaven, "Father, forgive them, for they know 
not what they do" (if they had, they would not have 
crucified the Lord of glory) ; when the Risen One shows 
us His wounds and says, "Peace be unto you, receive the 
Holy Spirit," it is something far greater than when 
Moses says, "Cursed be he that shall not keep all. the 
words of this law." From the words of Jesus beams 
the clearest and happiest light into our hearts; for it 
brings with it grace, peace, righteousness and joy, while 
on the other hand the lantern of Moses only seeks out 
the trespasses and the iniquities, and illumines judgment 
and hell to frighten us, for our good, however, that we 
may thereby be driven to the cross. Therefore, we give 
thanks for both. Let us remain at the cross of Christ 
until we shall see Him as He is. What a glorious day 
that will be! 

O gladly tread the narrow path, 
While light and grace are given! 
For those who follow Christ on earth, 
Shall reign with Him in heaven. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our 
refuge. Ps. 46: 11. If God be for us, who can be against 
us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? 
It is God that justifieth. Rom. 8: 31. 33. 

He who abides in God stands fast and secure, firm 
as the rock in the sea : the billows shall not shake or 
remove it. The "elect" whom the Lord has chosen out of 
the world and upon whom He has put the seal of the 
Holy Spirit, so that they are His own — who because of 



237 

the testimony of God's Spirit know that they are His 
children because they are led by His Spirit and be- 
cause His Spirit bears witness with their spirit of their 
sonship, these elect, who have surrendered themselves 
unconditionally to the Lord to live and die for Him, are 
invincible. God preserves them as the apple of His 
eye. Neither the world nor the devil can lay anything 
to their charge ; for God takes care of them, God de- 
fends them and shields them. Who shall appear against 
God? They fear no one. Who shall be able to 
touch those whom God covers and protects? That it 
lies in the heart of God to be their confidence, their 
rock, their refuge and fortress, we know for a certainty 
from the fact that He spared not His own Son, but 
sacrificed Him for them. He who knows this, to whom, 
in the light of God, it 'has become clear and in whose 
heart it is written, "God has for your sake not spared His 
own Son, but has given Him for you," can no longer wa- 
ver in his trust in God. He thinks, What more do I want ? 
I have already received so much from my God that I 
cannot receive more. How am I to receive and enjoy all 
that I already possess ? The Son of God is mine ! 
Expand thyself, O mine heart ! How canst thou make 
room for this gift? Now, he who rightly understands 
how to hold fast this gift, entertains no fear of not 
receiving everything else of which he is in need ; 
yea, he finds and possesses in this gift everything else. 
Only he must see to it that he actually possesses Christ 
and that he not only imagines having part in Him. He 
that has the Son has also the Father for himself and 
in himself. He can say with St. Paul, "I am persuaded, 
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, 
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able 
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ 
Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8: 38. 39). 

A mighty fortress is our God, 

A trusty shield and weapon; 

He helps us free from every need 

That hath us now o'ertaken. 



2 3 8 

The old, bitter foe 
Means us deadly woe: 
Deep guile and great might 
Are his dread arms in fight, 
On earth is not his equal. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and 
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. 
10: 10. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the 
knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice 
for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and 
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Heb. 
10: 26. 27. 

There are many who boldly believe and appropriate 
the righteousness of Christ. Nevertheless, they believe 
not with the heart, but with the mouth only. It is with 
the heart man believes; the faith of the heart makes 
righteous, makes the heart righteous, makes life, mind 
and conversation righteous. With the mouth we make 
confession, and that saves, if the heart and the mouth 
agree. If, on the other hand, your mouth confess and 
appropriate the righteousness of Christ, but your heart 
love unrighteousness, you make a wrong calculation. 
God will draw a line through your profession and say, 
"I never knew you; depart from me you who work in- 
iquity." When such a dead faith appropriates the merit 
of Christ, it will earn for itself hell and the wrath of 
God. For he who says that he believes in Christ and is 
justified by Him and yet voluntarily and without fear 
lives in the lust and love of the world, allows himself 
to be governed by his passions and gives himself up to 
anger, licentiousness, craving for honor, envy, hatred, 
covetousness, sinful amusements, dissipation, worldly 
joys, drunkenness or intemperance of any kind whatso- 
ever, may read his sentence in Heb. io: 28. 29. Abra- 
ham believed, and "it was counted unto him for 
righteousness," because his faith was obedient to God. 
You believe and are disobedient, and you count it unto 
yourself for righteousness ; but God will count it unto 



239 

unrighteousness. For he to whom He imputes right- 
eousness, also possesses it; he is righteous even as God 
is righteous; as John says, "Little children, let no man 
deceive you : he .that doeth righteousness is righteous, 
even as he is righteous" (i John $'. j). 

Finish then Thy new creation, 
Pure, unspotted, may we be; 
Let us see Thy great salvation 
Perfectly restored in Thee! 
Changed from glory into glory, 
Till in heaven we take our place, 
Till we cast our crowns before Thee, 
Lost in wonder, love, and praise. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these 
things? John 3: 10. For some have not the knowledge of 
God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor. 15: 34. I know 
whom I have believed. 2 Tim. 1: 12. I know that my Re- 
deemer liveth. Job 19: 25. 

"If thou hadst known the things which belong unto 
thy peace !" said Jesus in tears before Jerusalem. The 
same could be said of many who call themselves Chris- 
tians, yea, who confess that they belong to those who 
are awakened. For notwithstanding all their talk about 
these things, they do not know their own true condi- 
tion. There is no divine assurance, no knowledge of 
personal experience, in them, no knowledge in the heart 
(if one may speak thus), but only a knowledge in the 
head, a knowledge of the memory, something memo- 
rized, heard, and repeated after others. They have either 
not tasted, or they have tasted too little, of the good- 
ness of the Lord. They have the words in the mouth, 
but not the truth, the essence of the words, not the 
power of truth in their hearts. Accordingly, there is 
much talk about regeneration, repentance, and awaken- 
ing, but there are few who are regenerated, converted, 
and awakened. There are many who have a great many 
things to say concerning regeneration, but they are igno- 
rant of their own regeneration and spiritual renewing. 



. 240 

Hence they actually understand just as little about it as 
Nicodemus did. St. Paul complained of some of his Co- 
rinthians who could talk, judge and condemn, give rise 
to divisions, and who knew much; but they were igno- 
rant of that which they ought to know. "Ye have not 
the knowledge of God," says St. Paul; that is, they had 
no living, active knowledge, did not know the truth from 
experience. The heart knew nothing of Jesus. St. 
Paul had a living information and knowledge of Him 
in whom he believed. Job knew that his Redeemer lives, 
that is, he had experience of the power of the living 
God in his own heart. It has been the same with all 
true Christians. They have known what one ought to 
know ; they have possessed what they knew ; perceived 
in their own lives that which they believed, and they 
have borne within themselves Christ in whom they have 
believed. They have lived in Christ, and Christ in 
them. 

Grant that Thy Word and doctrines good 
May in our hearts be cherished, 
And that we may, on this sound food, 
Be to salvation nourished; 
Yea, let us die to every sin, 
Revive the heavenly life within, 
That we may bear faith's fruitage. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

For I know him, and that he will command his children 
aJid his household after him, and they shall keep the way 
of the Lord. Gen. 18: 19. Fathers, provoke not your chil- 
dren to anger, lest they be discouraged. Col. 3: 21. 

God promised Abraham that all nations should be 
blessed in him. Why did God give the patriarch this 
promise? The blessed Lord tells you Himself: God 
foresaw that Abraham would teach his children and his 
household "the way of the Lord," and lead them in it. 
The faith that did such works, was the justifying faith 
of Abraham. Thus did he show his faith, and this 
active faith was counted him unto righteousness. You 
also believe; but what do you do for your children and 






241 

your household? God knows whether you teach them 
the way of the Lord and whether you guide them therein 
by your example. God does not consider the faith that 
you speak of with your mouth, but the faith that mani- 
fests itself in your life and conversation and in the 
training of your children. Your faith can not save you 
if you permit your children to be damned. You do not 
walk in "the way of the Lord," in the way of saving 
faith, if you do not also lead your children and 
subordinates in the right way. If you have for- 
merly, while you walked in the evil and perverted 
ways, neglected it, and if you are not now able 
to bring your children, misguided by yourself, back 
into the right way, notwithstanding all the zeal and 
care you employ, do not cease to admonish and to warn 
them ; do not become weary in watchfulness and prayers 
to the Lord. Despair not ; for He who has saved you 
will also save your children, if you do not neglect 
your part. It were better that they were not born, 
than that they should be lost. Could you wish to be 
saved without your children ? But you must not provoke 
them to anger by endeavoring to force salvation upon 
them. This is something which you cannot accomplish 
by force. You may hinder it thereby ; by such procedure 
you may easily plunge them deeper into depravity. 
Train and guide them as God has guided you. Do to 
them what God has done to you. Have patience ; not a 
patience like that of Eli, but the patience of earnest 
love, the patience of God, which desires to lead all men 
to repentance. (The same applies to children who have 
unconverted and unbelieving parents). 

O blessed house, where little children, tender, 
Are laid upon thy heart, with hands of prayer, 
Thou Friend of children, Who will freely render 
To them more than a mother's loving care; 
Where round Thy feet they gather, to Thee clinging, 
And hear Thy loving voice most willingly, 
And in their songs Thy hearty praises ringing, 
Rejoice in Thee, O blessed Lord, in Thee. 



242 

SATURDAY AFTER THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Love not the world, neither the things that are in the 
world- If any man love the world, the love of the Father 
is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the 
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not 
of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2: 15. 16. Watch 
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Mat. 26: 41. 

"Are ye still asleep ?" said the Savior to His disciples 
when He came back from His first prayer on the Mount 
of Olives and found them heavy with sleep, against 
which He had warned them so emphatically. He fore- 
saw the danger and knew their weakness ; therefore He 
admonished them to watch and pray. But they all slept 
away from prayer and watching and fell most shame- 
fully. Are you still asleep, O child of man, notwith- 
standing that you have three arch-enemies in you and 
around you? In you you have the world; but in the 
world there are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the 
eyes, and the pride of life. These are three mighty 
enemies, which it is impossible for you to overcome, if 
you do not seek reinforcement from above, and if you 
are not always on your guard. He who does not watch, 
who is slothful in the practice of his Christianity, gives 
weapons in the hands of these enemies, delivers to his 
adversary provisions and reinforcements so that he can 
maintain his fortress and become invincible. You have 
the enemy, the thief, in the house, and yet you sleep 
quietly as if there were no danger at hand. How much 
easier you make for him the victory and the pillage ! It 
is easy for us to fall: we are born as fallen beings. We 
bring with us from our parents the inclination to fall ; 
we cannot learn to stand fast and pursue a steady aim 
without grace and the daily renewing of the inner man, 
which must be wrought from above by the Holy Spirit. 
He who does not each day pray God for this Spirit of 
power, and who does not watch in this Spirit, lies asleep 
in the bosom of the enemy. What a terrible awakening, 
when at last he is awakened by the fall into the bottom- 
less pit! 



243 

Let us watch, then pray with heed, 

God will prove our Hearer; 

For the hour of utmost need 

Constantly draws nearer. 

Saints will cheer, 

Sinners fear, 

When the trumpet calleth, 

Earth in ruins falleth. 



THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and f 
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved 
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith- 
ful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thes. 5: 
23. 24. 

It is a sanctification perfect and complete, a sancti- 
fication of the whole man, of spirit, soul and body, that 
the apostle demands. A blamelessness unto the day of 
Christ, unto the coming of the Lord, must adorn the 
conversation of the Christian ; otherwise he cannot stand 
at His coming. But there are many dangers in this 
world, much of depravity in ourselves, and it is impos- 
sible for us in our own strength to press through and 
reach this sanctification and blamelessness. Therefore 
the apostle points out the true fountain and the right 
way that leads to it. He says that the "God of peace" 
shall sanctify us ; and this He is willing to do. For 
this purpose He bestows upon us in rich measure His 
Holy Spirit, who can make and preserve "spirit and soul 
and body" holy and undefiled, not only outwardly, super- 
ficially, in the manner of the Pharisees, but in our very 
being. The way that leads to such sanctification is be- 
lieving prayer and active piety together with confidence 
in the faithfulness of the Lord that He will surely help 
and strengthen us when we do not hinder Him, but each 
day, pursuing holiness, surrender ourselves to Him. In 
him whom He has called, and in whom He has begun 
His precious work, will He also perform it. Whom God 
has justified, him will He also sanctify and glorify so 
that he becomes like to the image of His Son. But 



244 

nothing is here so much in God's way as our little faith, 
our distrust and fear that our sanctification is something 
impossible. Such thoughts paralyze' us ; close the door 
of our hearts to grace; vex the Holy Spirit and work 
that we ultimately lose all grace. For he who does not 
desire to become perfectly pure and holy, is not fit for 
the kingdom ,of God. Semi-saints, superficially sanc- 
tified persons, are of no use in heaven. "Wholly" sanc- 
tified or not at all. Think of this! God is faithful. 
He, He — mark it! — shall do it. Your weak faith will 
not hinder Him. 

Make me to walk in Thy commands; 
Tis a delightful road; 
Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, 
Offend against my God. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth 
forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless 
come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 
Ps. 126: 5. 6. And one of the elders answered, saying unto 
me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and 
whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. 
And he said to me, These are they which came out of 
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made 
them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7: 13. 14. 

Without a sowing in tears, no harvest of joy. With- 
out great tribulations, no great gladness. Without the 
cross, no crown. Without the battle, no victory. With- 
out labor, no birth. Not as though we were to merit 
salvation by suffering, cross and battle. By no means. 
Ask the apostle Paul, who can tell you a great deal 
about this, and you shall hear that, even though we are 
justified and saved by grace without the merit of works, 
we nevertheless can not enter into the kingdom of heav- 
en without tribulation, persecutions and great afflictions. 
Read through all the Scriptures and you shall find both. 
Do not put asunder that which is inseparable. Your 
faith in the righteousness of Christ is of no account 
unless it has been tried seven times in the crucible of 






245 

tribulation, as the gold is tried in the fire. Who knows 
that you love the Savior as long as you do not suffer 
for Him and only desire to walk to heaven upon roses? 
Ask all true Christians through the centuries if they 
have not suffered much and sowed "in tears" before 
they could "reap in joy." St. John the seer, who saw 
much farther than you and I can see, relates that beyond, 
where the Lamb and His company walk in white robes 
with palms and crowns, they have nothing else to say but 
that all who there are robed in white, here were badly 
burned by the heat of tribulation — that all who there 
have entered into glory, here did not walk on roses, but 
had to enter the joy of the Lord through thorns and upon 
stony paths, through fire and sword, ridicule and dis- 
honor. If you walk in these ways, you shall be saved 
by grace and in heaven cast down your crown before 
the Lamb, 

In that peace we reap in gladness 

What was sown in tearful showers; 

There the fruit of all our sadness 

Ripens, — there the palm is ours; 

There our God upon His throne 

Is our full reward alone. 

They who lived, who died unto Him, 

Sheaves of gladness bring there through Him. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my 
change come. Job 14: 14. Why art thou cast down, O my 
soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou 
in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of 
my countenance, and my God. Ps. 42: 11. 

The Christian's life consists in giving himself, soul 
and body, to God, and in waiting for the perfect change, 
the complete deliverance from all evil, sin, and suffer- 
ing - ; in short, all that darkens the horizon of his soul. 
This waiting and hoping sometimes becomes too hard 
for us, and we have to enter upon a warfare against our- 
selves. We desire it differently. The Christian longs 
for the great change; he longs to be translated from 



246 

temporal things to eternal things; from strife into rest. 
But when the battle waxes hot, the Christian conducts 
himself as the brave soldiers who, notwithstanding they 
have a superior enemy opposing them, do not run away 
nor allow themselves to be taken captive, but defend 
themselves manfully in the sure hope that the comman- 
der-in-chief in due time will send auxiliary troops and 
reinforcements. Who has a better right to hope for re- 
inforcements than the Christian, whose Commander-in- 
chief Himself has fought here on earth and watches the 
battle that each of His soldiers must fight, who- is, 
though unseen, Himself ever present in the fray? Be- 
sides this consolation, the Christian constantly looks 
forward to the crown of glory which shall fall to his 
lot if he remain steadfast until the end. He thinks, 
At present I must suffer, but sometime, sometime, I 
shall thank God and give praise especially for that which 
now causes me the greatest distress and sorrow. Yea, 
my afflictions shall become my greatest joy. He who 
now hides His face from me, shall yet become the health 
of my countenance, and my God. I shall behold Him, 
possess and enjoy Him; this is surely worth fighting for. 

Jesus, still lead on, 
Till our rest be won; 
Heavenly Leader, still direct us, 
Still support, console, protect us, 
Till we' safely stand 
In our Fatherland! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto 
the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and 
foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the 
household of God. Eph. 2: 18. 19. 

He who has "put on Christ" and truly lives in Christ, 
has his name written in heaven. No one, except the 
hand of man himself, can erase the name ; but he himself 
can blot it out, if he again stretch forth his hand for 
the world and sin, and draw it away from Christ. But 
he who abides in Christ, has most assuredly a place in 



247 

heaven which no one can take from him. Will not he 
who is convinced of this rejoice because of his right as 
a citizen of heaven? will he not raise himself above 
earthly things? will not his heart be more in heaven 
than on earth ? A Christian is no stranger and foreigner 
in heaven, in the kingdom of God, in the invisible world. 
His spirit is already at home there. He knows his 
home-country well and the way that leads to it. He who 
is not at home there but conducts himself as if he were 
a foreigner who, like a guest, seldom comes there and 
only by great effort can turn his thoughts in that direc- 
tion, can hardly belong to the true household of God 
and be a fellow-citizen with the saints. It is, perhaps, 
only something he imagines, something which he has 
heard and which he repeats. They of the household 
know the house whether it be large or small. The house- 
hold of God — should they not know the house and the 
kingdom of God? Should they not be strangers here? 
Should they not be at home there? Beloved, by your 
conversation in the spirit you may know of what king- 
dom you are a citizen, whether you are a citizen of the 
world or a citizen of heaven. The heart of the citizen 
of this world clings to the world and dwells in the 
world ; the spirit of the citizen of heaven dwells in heav- 
en and clings to its home. 

If the way be drear, 

If the foe be near, 

Let, not faithless fear o'ertake us, 

Let not faith and hope forsake us; 

For through many a foe 

To our home we go. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



And be not conformed to this world: but be ye trans- 
formed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove 
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
Rom. 12: 2. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord 
that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the 
vanity of their mind. Eph. 4: 17. 



248 

There is nothing more self-contradictory, nothings 
more shameful, than when a person glories in Christ 
crucified, in His merits and grace, and at the same time 
loves the world — that world which has crucified and 
which daily crucifies the Lord. There is nothing so 
shameful as a Christian who conforms himself to the 
world and acts contrary to the mind of the crucified 
One; who' yearns for honor and is offended and feels 
hurt to such an extent by every slight and disrespect for 
his person that he feels wretched and plans revenge or 
self-exaltation ; who seeks earthly riches which Jesus 
disdained; who loves the carnal lusts, ease and an idle 
life, while Jesus suffered so much in this world in order 
to save us ; who still nourishes hatred, enmity, ill-will, 
malice, in his heart, and shows this in his conduct to- 
ward his enemies, while Jesus prayed for His enemies 
and murderers, kissed the one who betrayed Him and 
commands us to do the same ; who will not be behind 
the world in anything but emulate it in all things so as 
not to make a sensation, so as not to be despised, but 
honored; who will not confess Jesus and His 'holy doc- 
trine in word and conduct but feels ashamed to appear 
in all things a true and faithful disciple of Jesus. Does 
not such a Christian act like a heathen? Does he not 
act as he did when he knew not Christ? I pray and 
adjure you, beloved, that you desist from glorying in 
Christ if you will not cease to conform to the 
world, if you will not put off all Gentile manners. Do 
you fear the passing ridicule of the world more than the 
unalterable word of Jesus, "I never knew you"? 

Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon 
Let midnight be ashamed of noon: 
'Tis midnight with my soul, till He, 
Bright Morning Star, bids darkness flee. 

Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend 
On whom my hopes of heaven depend! 
No; when I blush, be this my shame, 
That I no more revere His name. 



249 

FRIDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty 
shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be 
delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with 
thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them 
that oppress thee with their own flesh. Is. 49: 25. 26. Fear 
ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their 
revilings. Is. 51: 7. 

Do ye know "the mighty'' one, the Goliath of hell, 
the tyrant, the robber and the "murderer from the begin- 
ning-?" Do not fear him. On the other hand, do not 
jest with him. For it is not without significance that the 
Scriptures call him the tyrant, "the mighty" one. All 
Israel trembled before Goliath. Only David dared enter 
into combat with him, and he conquered him with a 
smooth stone because he did not trust in Saul's armor, 
nor in his own arm, nor in the stone, but in the Lord 
who is the stronger. The Christian has nothing to fear 
when he is in Christ ; for Christ is given unto us by God 
to deliver us from "the mighty" one, even though we are 
in his claws ; to tear us from him even though we are 
the prey of hell. Much less should we fear men who 
often are kindled by hell and animated by Satan. Even 
though they rage ever so devilishly we commend the 
cause to the Lord in earnest prayer; He has promised 
to "contend" with them who contend with us, and to 
let them that oppress us "eat their own flesh," to capture 
them by their own snares and to let them fall into the 
pits they have dug for the children of God. How can we 
fear when the Lord cries to us from heaven, "Fear not 
the reproach of men ; be not afraid of the revilings of 
those who, all together, before me are only as a drop 
of water"? Learn, dear soul, to look away from men 
who are down here on earth ; learn to turn your ears 
away from their reproaches and to look upward ; listen 
to Him who looks down from on high and utters His 
"Fear not" to your soul. Do not forget these two little 
words ; they are a shield by which you shall be able to 
quench all the fiery darts of Satan. 



250 

Take, my soul, thy full salvation; 
Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care; 
Joy to find in every station, 
Something still to do and bear: 
Think what Spirit dwells within thee! 
What a Father's smile is thine! 
What a Savior died to win thee! 
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine? 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious 
people, which walketh Iji a way that was not good, after 
their own thoughts. Is. 65: 2. They do alway err in their 
heart. Heb. 3: 10. O that thou hadst harkened to my com- 
mandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy 
righteousness as the waves of the sea. Is. 48: 18. O Eph- 
raim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do 
unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as 
the early dew it goeth away. Hos. 6: 4. 

If the Savior "spread oat His hands to a rebellious 
people," who ever offended Him but could not make 
Him weary ; if He spread out His hands and held His 
arms open to them all the day, all the days of their life, 
what will He not do for them who spread out their hands 
to Him? whose whole longing and desire are bent on 
Him? who say with the Psalmist, "Whom have I in 
heaven but Thee"? If God loved the stiffnecked Jews 
so much, how much will He not love the Christians who 
have given themselves to Him completely f It He longed 
for those who walked after their own thoughts in ways 
that were not good, how earnestly will He not long for 
those whose thoughts are bent upon Him, who walk in 
the blessed way of faith and love! If the Lord did so 
much for Ephraim and Judah, concerning whom He 
makes so many complaints in the same chapter, how 
much will He not do for you, dear soul, if you bring 
Him your heart as a sacrifice and throw yourself into His 
arms with all that you are and all that you have ! What 
rivers of divine peace will not flow into your soul that 
thirsts for Him ! What a sea of grace and righteousness, 
of joy and salvation, will not pour into your heart, if 






25i 

you heed His commandment, "Love me with all thy 
heart," "Abide in me," "Come unto me all ye who labor 
and are heavy laden! 1 ' When you look' up to God, 
never imagine Him otherwise than He presents Himself 
in the above quoted Scripture passages. Never picture 
Him to your spiritual eye otherwise than with arms 
spread out to you, with an open heart from which rivers 
of peace, grace and righteousness flow and would enter 
your heart. Make no other picture of Him. Copy the 
original that He has outlined for you, then you will get 
a good likeness of Him. 

Sinner, come, for here is found 
Balm that flows for every wound; 
Peace that ever shall endure; 
Rest eternal, sacred, sure. 



THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her 
cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to 
the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my 
chief joy. Ps. 137: 5. 6. When I remember thee upon my 
bed, and meditate on thee in the night-watches. Ps. 63: 6. 

What, ye children of Israel, ye could not in the 
strange land forget your Jerusalem, your temple, your 
outward sanctuary, which were but a shadow of the 
blessings that were to come? Jerusalem was your high- 
est joy. Your heart clung to the place where the Lord 
of glory revealed Himself in clouds and in flames of 
fire. Ye would rather not live, nor think, nor talk, 
than forget Jerusalem, than not to be able to talk about 
it. So intensely can men love the outward sanctuary. 
And you, the children of the new covenant, who every- 
where carry Jerusalem, your temple, your sanctuary, 
your ark of the covenant, the glory and the presence of 
'the Lord, with you, you should cling less to it? You 
should be able to- rejoice in anything else, to think of 
anything else in heaven or upon earth but of Him who 
dwells and moves in us, who is the heart of your heart 
and the life of your life? Should not He be your highest 
joy, your last thought in the evening and your first 



252 

thought in the morning? Should our tongue be able to 
speak of anything else ? Should it not cling to the roof 
of our mouth if it rather talk of anything but of Him? 
Should not our soul, our heart, our mind and all our 
faculties, cling to Him who hung upon the cross and 
poured Himself out as water for us? Should a Jew be 
able to love his glory in stone more than we Christians 
love the living God? Should the law, which only pro- 
claimed condemnation and death, which only wrought 
punishment, have greater power over the hearts of the 
Jews than the Gospel which imparts life and salvation, 
which works peace, over the hearts of the Christians? 
Should Moses make a deeper impression than the Savior 
with His wounds and the unction of His Spirit? Arise, 
brethren, arise ! Let us love Him, for He loved us first. 
The Jews in Babylon must shame us and arise against us 
in judgment if we do not love God with our whole soul, 
if we do not constantly and in a heartfelt manner think 
of Him who has loved us even when we were enemies, 
who in pure grace and love has drawn us unto Himself 
and who desires to be forever all to our souls. 

Thou heavenly Brightness, Light divine! 

O deep within my heart now shine, 

And make Thee there an altar! 

Fill me with strength and joy to be 

Thy member, ever joined to Thee 

In love that cannot falter; 

Towards Thee longing 

Doth possess me; turn and bless me; 

For Thy gladness 

Eye and heart here pine in sadness. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have 
deeply revolted. Is. 31: 6. For I am merciful, saith the Lord, 
and I will not keep anger forever. Jer. 3: 12. Turn ye unto 
me, and I will turn unto you. Zech. 1: 3. As I live, saith 
the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; 
but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Ezek 33: 11. 
Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more 
than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no re- 
pentance. Luke 15: 7. 



253 

Satan says to you, unfaithful and fallen brother, 
"God cares no longer for you ; the children of God will 
no longer recognize you." But God says, "Turn, turn 
unto me ; I will help you ; I will redeem you." Do you 
prefer to believe the "liar" and the enemy of your soul 
instead of that Truth and Love which would rather see 
you redeemed and saved than lost and condemned? God 
your Savior does not only care for you, but there is also 
great rejoicing in heaven. "My angels," says Jesus, 
"rejoice as much and more over you than over ninety 
and nine who are not fallen away but have remained 
faithful after their conversion." "But my sin is too 
gross ; I have so often forsaken my Savior." The greater 
will be His joy and the joy of His angels when they 
find that which was lost, when at last you turn to Him 
in such true repentance that nothing can separate you 
from Him any more. He will this time grant you all 
the more grace, that you may remain steadfast, and that 
He may not again lose His sheep which was lost and is 
found. That which keeps the fallen sinner from repent- 
ance, usually also keeps the pious from again seeking the 
face of the Lord and returning to communion with Him 
when he has stepped aside from the narrow way and 
forgotten himself. "As I am now, with such a distracted 
and unfaithful heart, I dare not come unto Him," he 
thinks ; "I must wait until I become better." My friend, 
the same liar and murderer inspires this thought that 
deceives the fallen and keeps him from true repentance. 
For the Savior always says, "Come unto me, all." The 
longer you remain away, the worse you grow. The 
Savior is not willing that any one shall be lost but that 
all should return to Him; thus He writes to you in 
2 Pet. 3 : 9, "Return unto me thou who hast turned away, 
thou who art scattered, and I shall gather thee and keep 
thee out of thy distraction. I shall return unto thee." 
Thus He speaks to you in Is. 44: 22 and in Zech. 1 : 3. 
May you read what the Lord 'here writes to you. 

Jesus sinners doth receive! 

What though Satan's rage assail me? 

I of him ask no reprieve, 



254 

This assurance will avail me; 
I am safe while I believe; 
Jesus sinners doth receive. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Giving thanks unto ,the Father, which hath made us meet 
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 
who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath 
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we 
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of 
sins. Col. 1: 12-14. What shall I render unto the Lord for 
all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salva- 
tion, and call upon the name of the Lord. Ps. 116: 12. 13; 
103: 1-4. 

A grateful soul finds joy in recounting in his mind 
all the benefits and blessings which he has received from 
God during the days of his life. He forgets not the 
benefits of the Lord; for heartfelt thanks is a new and 
audible prayer. He who has received the forgiveness of 
his sin, should never forget the purging from his former 
sins that he may not fall into new ones. He who has 
become a child of God and has been sealed by His Spir- 
it, must not vex that Spirit by ingratitude and heedless- 
ness, but every day rejoice in it with a thankfulness which 
is heartfelt and humble. Then his state of grace will 
become ever better secured. He who dares call God 
Father and who has learned to know Jesus as Advocate 
and Redeemer, must not neglect, with earnest thankful- 
ness and praise to his Savior, in a child-like manner to 
call upon the Father and pray Him for the preservation 
of grace through the Mediator, Jesus, that he may not 
lose His grace. Verily, he who always honestly rejoices 
in the love and mercy, favor and grace, of his merciful 
God and Savior, and with a sincere heart gives thanks 
therefor, and ever anew places this undeserved grace 
before his eyes, and meditates upon it in his heart, lives 
therein, and nothing shall separate him from "the love 
of God in Christ Jesus." 

Oh, may this bounteous God, 
Through all our life be near us, 



255 

With ever joyful hearts 

And blessed peace to cheer us; 

And keep us in His grace, 

And guide us when perplexed, 

And free us from all ills, 

In this world and the next. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exer- 
cise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all 
things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that 
which is to come. 1 Tim. 4: 7. 8. 

In order to attain "godliness" you must be in God 
and God in you. Love is certainly God-like, for it abides 
in God and God abides in it. Therefore, love God with 
all your heart and you shall at once experience what it 
means to be godly. Seek His grace and the forgiveness 
of your sins through your Savior. Or, if you have 
already received this great benefit, remain in Him who 
has forgiven you and delight yourself in Him, and you 
shall be unspeakably blessed and enjoy a gladness and a 
peace which no man can take from you. That which 
serves to maintain and increase this joy is something 
in which you must exercise yourself. What should make 
you more godly than the child-like communion with 
Him in the spirit and a life active in love to your neigh- 
bor? God, Christ, is godliness itself, the fountain of all 
godliness. He who with all his heart keeps himself near 
this fountain, always exercises himself in drawing near 
to this fountain, who thirsts and longs for it, shall receive 
abundantly to drink from it ; he shall be satisfied with 
the fatness of the house of God (Ps. 36: 8). In addi- 
tion to this, every one who, feeling his blessedness in 
God, tries to make others partakers in this joy also, and 
to lead them to this fountain, becomes all the more 
blessed, in that the joy of others becomes his own joy 
and adds to his joy. Thus godliness has the promise 
that both here and hereafter it shall bring a gain so 
great that no benefit or good fortune on earth can bring 
anything like it. Godliness is blessed, ever blessed, in 



256 

life and in death, in this world and in the world to come. 
For nothing can separate it from God, its origin and 
source. 

Love in loving finds employ, 

In obedience all her joy; 

Ever new that joy will be, 

Loving Him who first loved me. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. Jer. 
22: 29. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word 
hath quickened me. Unless thy law had been my delights, I 
should then have perished in mine affliction. Ps. 119: 50. 92. 

Hear how the prophets cry throughout the land to 
awaken love and attention to the Word of the Lord. 
Is the Word of God a matter of such great importance? 
Yes, most certainly, more than the tongue of any prophet 
can utter. If we had not the Word of God, we should 
perish in our affliction ; thus David tells us. How often 
we come near to the pit of despair before we are able 
to grasp the Word of God and in faith and confidence 
hold fast the truthfulness and faithfulness of God ! The 
Word of God alone can deliver us out of all things. 
Though we were in the jaws of hell, in the claws of 
Satan, in the nets of sin, if we are able to reach and 
grasp in faith the Word of the eternal, almighty God 
and our Savior, then death, devil and hell, sin and the 
world, and all the hosts of our enemies, must give us 
up, let us go and set us at liberty. The snare of the 
fowler is torn asunder; then we are free. The Word 
of the Lord is like a rope let down from heaven to 
the earth, which every human hand, every heart that 
will only believe, may grasp and hold fast. Every one 
who actually grasps it and does not let go of it even 
though the whole world try to hinder him or revile him, 
or use force in order to turn him away, is saved ; he 
raises himself .by its help above all mountains and is 
drawn out of every abyss and into heaven. For the 
Hand that lets down the rope also draws it up; that 



257 

Hand does not let go, and it does not let you fall. Fear 
not ; the rope will not break. It is strong and good and 
holds forever; it is three-stranded. The Father, the Son 
and the Holy Ghost hold it, and "a threefold cord is not 
quickly broken" (Eccl. 4: 12). 

Praised be the Lord, my God, 

My Trusty my life from heaven, 

The Father's Spirit, whom 

The Son to me hath given, 

He who revives my heart 

And gives new strength and power, 

Aid, comfort and support 

In sorrow's gloomy hour. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 
1 Tim. 6: 12. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet 
is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim. 2: 5. 

Who will deny the existence of those enemies that 
on all sides oppose the godly person and would rob 
him of his prize? If he desires to maintain it, he must 
fight, yet not with the fist, not with sword and rapier; 
not with a human. arm, but with the shield of faith and 
the sword of God's Word, with prayer and supplication 
to Him by whom and with whom and in whom alone 
he is able to overcome his enemies. He who fights in 
his own strength against the enemies of his soul ; he 
who builds fortifications of all kinds of human self-in- 
vented means, and thinks himself safe in them, will not 
be able to conquer in the fight. The enemies ridicule his 
fortifications. On the other hand, where they see the 
Lord, who is the strong hero in fight, they retreat and 
take to flight. Do you tremble before your enemies when 
you consider your own weakness and their strength? 
Engage not in battle with them with your own forces, 
but fall on your face before Him at whose name hell 
trembles; pray Him to fight for you and teach your 
hands to battle. Trust in Him ; He shall do it and con- 
duct the battle to victory. Do not trust in yourself, in 
your own intentions or weapons but solely and only in 



2 5 8 

Him. Continue therefore in prayer and in a living faith 
in Christ until the victory is won. This is the battle of 
faith and of constant prayer which the apostle Paul 
commends. Thus you lay hold of Christ, the eternal 
life. He who fights, but not thus, does not fight law- 
fully; he will not be crowned because he conquers not, 
nor can he conquer. 

Fear not, O little flock, the foe 

Who madly seeks your overthrow; 

Dread not his rage and power: 

What though your courage sometimes faints, 

His seeming triumph o'er God's saints 

Lasts but a little hour. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue — knowledge 
— temperance — patience — godliness — brotherly kind- 
ness — charity. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dil- 
igence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye 
do thece things, ye shall never fall. 2 Pet. 1: 5-10. 

There are some so-called awakened persons who have 
a little Bible in which is found nothing but that which 
serves to reassure and console their slothful flesh; that 
is, they take only a few comforting passages out of the 
Bible, that do not concern them at all, because they 
will have nothing to do with the rest of God's Word. 
The Bible becomes to them a fence by which they are 
enclosed so that they cannot get by their own flesh 
and blood to Christ. The Bible ought, however, to be 
a spur, each day driving them closer to Christ. Such 
a spur is also this passage in the epistle of St. Peter. 
It must be read as a whole and earnestly considered. 
He has first mentioned the most glorious promises of 
God; then follow these wholesome exhortations that no 
one must regard as superfluous even though he may 
have been with St. Peter on Mount Tabor or with St. 
Paul in Paradise. You may already have received many 
evidences of grace from God. Thank God for them. 
But if you do not use diligence in making your elec- 
tion and your calling to true Christianity sure; if you 



259 

do not strive together with your "I believe in God the 
Father, I believe in Jesus our Savior" to unite Chris- 
tian virtue, true godliness, patience and temperance and 
all that which the eye of Jesus desires to see in you 
and which He expects to see in His disciples, then 
hear what St. Peter has to say to you : you are blind, 
you close your eyes, and you have forgotten the purg- 
ing from your former sins. You will fall or you are 
already fallen, because you have forgotten the true imi- 
tation of Christ and the likeness to Him. On the other 
hand, if you possess all those things which St. Peter 
requires, and if you are not idle and barren in the knowl- 
edge of Jesus, you are a true disciple of Jesus and know 
how the Bible is to be used. Nowadays, however, most 
people like the Bible in pocket size. Still even in such 
a Bible there is enough to wound and heal if they only 
would suffer themselves to be wounded and healed. 

Lord, make us ready with Thy powers, 
Strengthen the flesh in weaker hours, 
That as good warriors we may force 
Through life and death to Thee our course! 



THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to 
finish his work. John 4: 34. For whom he did foreknow, 
he also did predestinate to be contormed to the image of 
his Son, that he might be the first-born among many breth- 
ren. Rom. 8: 29. For I have given you an example, that 
ye should do as I have done to you. John 13: 15. 

How can a true Christian daily receive grace upon 
grace from Jesus, allow himself to be so undeservedly 
loved by him, live upon His merits, wash in His blood 
and draw life from His death, without feeling the wish, 
the earnest desire and endeavor to become like his Master 
and to be in this world as He was? Every disciple 
fashions himself according to his master, looks to his 
mouth and hand. Shall the Christian remain in his nat- 
ural depravity, shall he be born of God and have Christ 
dwelling by faith in his heart and not lead a godly life 
as his Master, not seek to be fashioned like Him? No, 



260 

even a friend tries to imitate a friend in all things. The 
lover gives himself no rest until he has recalled the 
likeness of the beloved to' his mind's eye. Love shows 
itself in that one acts as the one beloved. We, also, 
are predestined and elected by God "before the founda- 
tion of the world" to be like Him "in love" (Eph. 
i: 4). His favorite food (John 4: 34) must also 
be ours. His mind and conduct must also be our 
mind and conduct' otherwise we have no part in 
Him. Our eye must always be turned toward Him and 
His holy conduct, so that we always think, speak and 
act as He would think, speak and act if He were in 
our place. As was said to Moses, "And look that thou 
make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee 
in the mount" (Ex. 25: 40; Acts 7: 44), so it is said 
also to the Christian: Look to that pattern which was 
showed thee on Mount Golgotha and plan thy whole 
life and conduct according thereto. 

Let Thy rich grace increase, 
Through all my early days, 
The fruit of righteousness and peace 
To Thine eternal praise. 



MONDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And the multitude of all the nations shall be as 

a dream of a .night vision. It shall even be as when an 

hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but 

he awaketh, and behold, he is faint. Is. 29: 7. 8. Why sleep 
ye? rise and pray. Luke 22: 46. The Lord looked down 
from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were 
any that did understand, and seek God. Ps. 14: 2. The 
Lord is good unto them that wait for him. Lam. 3: 25. 

False Christians, the only seemingly awakened, who 
walk in drowsy security and feed upon words and nour- 
ish themselves by thoughts and fancies, are like those 
who dream. If they once become frightened out of their 
sleep, they see at last and feel how empty, lean, and 
spiritless they have been. Learn to know yourself. Prove 
yourself to learn if you eat in a dream or in a wakeful 
condition; if you feed upon living words or only on 



26 1 

mere dead letters. Living food nourishes and strength- 
ens. Dream-food leaves the eater empty, powerless and 
as one dead. If you are such a secure and drowsy 
person who 'has been awakened, having' the name of 
being wakeful, but yet sleep and only dream, then arise 
and hear the word of the Lord by which He awakened 
His drowsy disciples : look up to heaven. The Lord 
looks down from heaven to see if you are awake and 
seek Him. He is ready to answer you. He is good 
to all who earnestly inquire after deliverance and sal- 
vation. If your conscience is awakened, or if it some- 
time shall awake, then know that the Lord a long time 
has watched and waited for you; that He rejoices when 
you at last hunger for His salvation and long for the 
powerful food of the Word of Life. Despair not be- 
cause of the time you have lost and dreamt away, but 
begin to-day to improve every moment; then salvation 
shall be yours. 

Oh, yield Him all: in Him confide; 
Where but with Him doth peace abide? 
Break loose, let earthly bonds be riven, 
And let the spirit rise to heaven! 



TUESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



We have both straw and provender enough, and room to 
lodge in. Gen. 24: 25. Come; for all things are now ready. 

Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet 

there is room. Go out into the highways and hedges, 

and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 
Luke 14: 17-23. 

As Rebekah and Laban so hospitably invited, received 
and lodged the servant of Abraham, there being enough 
room in their father's house, so hospitable and infinitely 
more hospitable is the Son of the eternal Father, in 
whose house there are as many mansions as there are 
men who desire to be saved. Should it ever be said of 
the vast 'habitation of God, when a poor, sinful, repent- 
ant child of man, longing for grace, knocks to be 
admitted and received : The house is full ; there is no 



262 

more room? The Savior teaches us something different. 
Not alone for those who voluntarily announce themselves 
at the first invitation, is there room ; but if all come who 
have been called and invited, yet there is room for those 
also who are compelled and constrained by the power 
of love. Though all respectable people are at the table, 
there is yet room for the maimed, the halt, and the blind, 
and those whom nobody else desires to have in the 
house. Even when all these are brought in, there is 
still room for those wretches who lie along the high- 
ways, the sight of whose misery pains the passersby; 
there is still room for those who lie behind the bushes 
and the hedges, who, as a rule, are not very fine and 
cultured people ; yea, even for them there is room. The 
Lord desires by force and violence to have them at His 
table. He becomes angry if they do not come. He 
will consume them with fire if they do not accept His 
house and His table, as He destroyed those who allowed 
themselves to be kept from coming to His supper by 
their oxen and fields and wives. So earnestly does the 
Lord desire that all men should be saved. So many 
places are prepared in His house ; there is so much room 
that none will be turned away: all are received. There- 
fore, do not fear that you will not be received; fear 
rather that you will not come ; that you remain away 
through your own neglect, to the sorrow of Him who 
has called you. 

God calling yet! — and shall He knock 
And I my heart the closer lock? 
He still is waiting to receive, 
And shall I dare His Spirit grieve? 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For whatsoever Is born of God overcometh the world. 1 
John 5: 4. He that believeth on me, the works that I do 
shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he 
do. John 14: 12. 

Faith is the way and the door and the key to all 
the treasures of God. "All things are possible to him 



263 

that believeth," says the Savior (Mark 9: 23). What 
the Savior did, faith can do ; yea, faith can do even 
greater works, according to what the Lord has promised 
His believers. It is hard to believe this and yet, who 
shall dare gainsay the truth? For Jesus does not say 
that He Himself could not have done greater works, 
but only that He will let those who believe on Him 
do greater works. It is He alone who works in the 
believers and therefore the works are His works. The 
greatest work is unquestionably to overcome one's self 
and the world within one's self. For there have been 
world-conquerors who have conquered everything with- 
out. The Christian only can conquer self. That power 
is not to be found outside of the Christian. Still, the 
Christian faith conquers also in others and for others. 
When it struggles in prayer, it conquers the most invin- 
cible, the most hardened hearts, and makes them subject 
to Christ. It drives all devils of sin and wickedness out 
of the hearts of men, when in the power of prayer it 
raises itself to that Lord who has the keys of death 
and hell. What can be stronger than death? Who can 
overcome it? Faith does not fear it. Faith swallows it 
up, quickens the dead and creates a new, living world 
out of dry bones (Ezek. 3:7). "If you can do nothing 
but believe, then you can do all things." Such faith is 
a living and moving power of prayer, and is most inti- 
mately connected with omnipotence — a connection with- 
out which faith is impossible. Faith is God in us. 
Blessed is he who holds Him fast. 

Faith in the conscience worketh peace, 
And bids the mourner's weeping cease; 
By faith the children's place we claim, 
And give all honor to one Name. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any- 
thing, nor un-circumcision; but faith which worketh by 
love. Gal. 5: 6. Circumcision is nothing, and un-circumci- 
sion is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of 
God. 1 Cor. 7: 19. Thou hast faith, shew me thy 



264 

faith without thy works. But wilt thou know, O va'ui 

man, that faith without works is dead? James 2: 18. 20. 

Living faith plants Christ, the Tree of Life, in the 
heart; by faith the Tree is firmly grounded and rooted 
and bears fruit unto eternal life. Where there are no 
fruits, there is no good tree, no matter how much talk 
there is about it. Sooner will you be able to separate 
the light from the sun and the warmth from the fire, 
than you shall separate love and the works of love from 
true faith. Faith without works, is a sun without light, 
a fire without heat. Of what use to you is a righteous- 
ness which leaves you without righteousness, without 
righteous works? Of what use to you is a Christ who 
lived, suffered and died nineteen hundred years ago, who 
allows you to remain destitute and dead in sin? Of 
what use to you is a garment which you do not wear 
on your body? If Christ by faith have bestowed upon 
you the robe of His righteousness, the bridal costume, 
then where is it ? Show it ; put it on ; walk in it ; other- 
wise you will not be admitted to the bridal supper; you 
will be cast out if you have entered the room. If God be 
ours, if Christ be ours, He must be in us. A God, a 
Christ, who is not in me, is not my God, not my Christ. 
That which is not blended together with my being is not 
mine, does not belong to me and I do not belong to it. I 
cannot count it mine when I do not appropriate it to 
myself, nor receive it into my mind, my heart, and my 
spirit. That which lives in me is my life. He who 
does not possess the Spirit of Christ is none of His. 
He who does not possess the righteousness of Christ, to 
him it does not belong. What do you gain if, when 
someone has given you a check for a large sum of 
money, you do not cash it and use the amount denoted 
on the check? When God gives you something, He 
gives it that you may enjoy and possess it. Examine 
yourselves, then, whether you possess that in which you 
believe, whether Christ is really to you that which God 
has intended Him to be to you (1 Cor. 1 : 30). 

Happy only in Thy love, 

Poor, unfriended, or unknown, 

Fix my thoughts on things above; 

Stay my heart on Thee alone. 



265 

FRIDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And he rose up that night, and Jacob was left 

alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the break- 
ing of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not 
against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the 
hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with 
him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And 
he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen. 
32: 22. 24-26. 

The man who "wrestled" with Jacob was the Son of 
God, which Jacob later acknowledged when he received 
His blessing (v. 29. 30). It was a fierce struggle which 
you can not understand unless you have experienced it 
yourself. God often mightily opposes His heroes of 
faith. He wants them to overcome Him with might and 
main. This is certainly done for no other reason than 
to exercise us in faith in order that we may prize and 
carefully preserve that which we have gained. With- 
out such a battle you will not get much from God. 
Nor must you overlook how Jacob prepared himself. 
He arose in the night when one can pray and commune 
undisturbed with God. He let his wives and children 
pass over the brook that he might be alone with God. 
To wrestle with God is a great act for which we should 
put everything else aside. Jacob did not discontinue the 
wrestling until God said to him, "Let me go, for the 
day breaketh/' until God put the hollow of his thigh 
out of joint, until God blessed him, until Jacob had ob- 
tained that which he desired. Learn from this to pray 
and to wrestle in prayer, if you are in earnest about 
your salvation. The Savior more than once let others 
wrestle with Him (Mat. 15: 22). He Himself wrestled 
with death (Luke 22\ 44). St. Paul wrestled through 
many afflictions in prayer by His power who wrought 
"mightily" in him (2 Tim. 4: 7; Col. 1: 29). He re- 
lates that Epaphras "labors fervently" in prayer for 
the Colossians (Col. 4: 12). He exhorts and beseeches 
the brethren that they, for the sake of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, "strive together" with Him in prayer to God 
for him (Rom. 15: 30). Prayer, therefore, is not a 



266 

mumbling with the mouth, not a gift of eloquence, but a 
mighty battle with God in the spirit. Lord, teach us 
to pray and to wrestle with Thee as Thy friends have 
wrestled with Thee. Strengthen me, that I never let 
Thee go until Thou hast blessed me. 

Strong in the Lord of hosts, 
And in His might and power: 
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts 
Is more than conqueror. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

This Is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 
1 Tim. 1: 15. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to 
repentance. Mark 2: 17. God will have all men to be 
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 
2: 4. 

It is true, as St. Paul says, that there is no word 
more beautiful and comforting, though you search all 
libraries and books in the world, though you listen to the 
sayings of all wise men and fools, than this precious 
word, "worthy of all acceptation," that Christ Jesus, 
God's only begotten Son, "came into the world to save 
sinners." Wken this word falls upon open ears, it makes 
the whole man richer than if one bestowed upon him 
a thousand worlds, more blessed than if all the great 
and the small of earth assured him of their favor. 
What the apostle wrote the Savior had previously con- 
firmed and cried to a world full of sinners: Yes, I am 
indeed come into this world to call sinners to repent- 
ance and salvation. Mark that I do not seek saints, 
not righteous men on earth. I know full well the world 
is full of sinners; but it is in their behalf that I am 
here, sent by the God of love, who is not willing that 
any human soul should perish, but desires, that all, all 
be saved. The world ought to fall on its face and 
worship. ' But since the world does not do so, may you, 
dear reader, come to the Savior. Let this word fully 
enter your heart and you shall surely bow in adoration. 



267 

When you understand this word rightly, it will cause 
you to bend your knees even though nothing else in 
the world is able to make you bow down. Blessed are 
the ears that are open to hear Thee, Thou Word of 
Life. 

Who can tell the pleasure, 

Who recount the treasure, 

By Thy Word imparted 

To the simple-hearted? 

Oh, that we, discerning 
Its most holy learning, 
Lord, may love and fear Thee, 
Evermore be near Thee. 



THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

There is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and 
thy name is great in might. Jer. 10: 6. I, even I, am the 
Lord; and beside me there is no Savior. Is. 43: 11. And 
it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have 
waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we 
have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his sal- 
vation. Is. 25: 9. 

Jesus is everything to us. He is altogether such a 
one as we sinful, weak and blind men are in need of. 
What He does for us, none else can do. The help, 
comfort, and grace ; the life, peace and blessedness, 
which we find in Jesus, we seek in vain elsewhere. No 
man could find true peace and quiet for his soul ; no 
man become pure and good ; none stand before God in 
judgment; none entertain hope of a better life; none be 
saved ; none comfort another ; none expect any good for 
himself and those who are his, if Jesus were not the 
one He is, the Savior, the Redeemer, the one who 
blots out sin, the one who quickens the dead, our Light, 
our Truth, our Life, "whose name shall be called Won- 
derful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting 
Father, the Prince of Peace" (Is. 9: 6). Where should 
the human flock find a shepherd who could see them all, 
find them all, feed, shield and protect them? Whence 
should come the sacrifice potent to blot out all sins and 
all guilt from Adam to the last one born of woman? 



268 

Where should that physician, that medicine, that ful- 
ness of Spirit, of power, of unction, be found, which 
is needed to heal all weakness, all vice, all the faults 
and diseases of the soul and make the whole man new? 
Where should that sea be discovered from which all 
human hearts, who need gladness and long for salvation, 
might draw and drink their fill? Who would have that 
patience, faithfulness, tenderness and love which is nec- 
essary to the awakening, conversion, enlightenment and 
sanctification of the weak creatures, not tiring of them, 
despairing of them or rejecting them? But now we 
have found Him, the Man who combines in Himself all 
this and more than human tongue can utter. Now we 
can say, as has been prophesied, "Lo, this is our God; 
we have waited for Him; and He will save us: this is 
the Lord ; we have waited for Him, we will be glad 
and rejoice in His salvation" (Is. 25: 9). 

He coines with succor speedy 
To those who suffer wrong; 
To help the poor and needy, 
And bid the weak be strong; 
To give them songs for sighing; 
Their darkness turn to light, 
Whose souls, condemned and dying, 
Were precious in His sight. 



MONDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath 
given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for 
a sweet-smelling savor. Eph. 5: 2. Walk in wisdom toward 
them that are without. Col. 4: 5. Let us walk in the light 
of the Lord. Is. 2: 5. Let no man put a stumbling- 
block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Rom. 14: 
13. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, aJid there 
is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1 John 2: 10. 

The most delightful incense before God is love. For 
this reason Christ, who in love sacrificed Himself for 
us men, was most pleasing to God. For this reason God 
is also well pleased in all those who walk in love and 
do to their brethren as Christ has done to us; who 
sacrifice themselves for their brethren ; who have learned 



269 

to renounce that which is dearest to them and to avoid 
the appearance of all evil in order not to give offence 
to anyone ; who by grace do all that they can do to 
build up their neighbor, to save him and rescue him 
from perdition. If you would burn sweet incense to 
the Lord, let the flame of love burn in you ; let it burn 
high in deeds of love ; replenish it by earnest praver 
and constant exercise in love, by walking in the light 
of love without offence. What was it that the Gentiles 
wonderingly saw in the first Christians? Their love to 
one another and to all men. Said the Gentiles, "Behold 
how they love one another," when they saw the Chris- 
tians gathered together. No light shines so clearly ; no 
light beams into other eyes so brightly as the light of 
love ; in love there is no shadow, no blot of sin or 
offence. Every light which is not pure love is a painted 
light, only darkness. All the sweetness and outward ap- 
pearance of love are insipid, an ill-smelling savor to 
God, if it does not edify and prompt us to walk in love 
according to the mind and example of Christ. He who 
despises, or lacks respect for a single human being, 
even though, as St. Paul says, he be "without," outside 
of the fellowship of Christ, a child of the world and of 
Satan, has no Christian love ; his light is darkness, his 
love a cold reflection, a northern light which gleams but 
gives no warmth. 

Unwearied, may I this pursue, 
Dauntless to the high prize aspire; 
Hourly within my soul renew 
This holy flame, this heavenly fire; 
And day and night be all my care 
To guard this sacred treasure there. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any 

man fall after the same example of unbelief. Heb. 4: 9. 11. 
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither 

shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. And God 

shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. 7: 16. 17. 



270 

When the children of Israel were led through the 
wilderness, they were promised that they should enter 
into rest, namely, into the quiet possession of the land 
of Canaan. But when they disobeyed the voice of God 
and let themselves be deceived by evil desires and hard- 
ened their hearts against Him, God swore in His holy 
wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest." He let 
them all die in the wilderness and led only their children 
and descendants into the promised land. Now St. 
Paul says, "We also have a land of promise, a Canaan; 
there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," 
namely here the kingdom of God within us, and here- 
after heaven, the kingdom of God in eternal glory. 
Into this land the Lord will lead us. In addition to this 
St. Paul urges emphatically (Heb. 3: I2"flw.), that we 
must not harden our hearts ; we must not depart from 
the living God, nor be deceived through sin ; we must 
not lose our participation in Christ but seek to preserve 
our first sure confidence steadfast to the end; we must 
not grow inactive, slothful, drowsy and cold; we must 
not become tired or frightened by tribulations, afflic- 
tions and struggles, or even desire from slothfulness to 
remain in the wilderness, not having the inclination to 
cut our way through the enemies in order to* reach this 
true rest; we must not love the rest of the flesh too 
dearly. He exhorts us that none of us must retreat or 
fall behind or neglect to enter the eternal rest, the heav- 
enly Canaan. For what does it benefit us to know of this 
rest, to have it preached to us, and even to write and 
speak about the kingdom of God, its time of advent* and 
the place and circumstances pertaining thereto? Knowl- 
edge benefits us nothing if we do not obey the voice of 
the Lord, if we do* not watch and pray lest we fall ac- 
cording to the example of the Jews, and God again 
swear in His wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest." 
Read and consider thoroughly the third and fourth chap- 
ters of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 

Who would live alway away from his God? 
Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode, 

k 



271 

Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, 
And the noontide of glory eternally reigns: 

Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, 
Their Savior and brethren transported to greet, 
While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, 
And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be 
removed, and though the mountains be carried into the 
midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar aJid be 
troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling 
thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall 
make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles 
of the most High. God is in the midst of her: she shall 
not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Ps. 
46: 1-5. We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint 
for walls and bulwarks. Is. 26: 1. 

"The city of God" is the Church of Christ, the com- 
munion of saints, the congregation of the faithful. The 
Church is ever in this world in great tribulation, but 
she cannot perish. The Church always is besieged, 
threatened, persecuted and ridiculed by her enemies, the 
flesh, the world and the devil. But the Church remains 
a firm, invincible city, no matter 'how weak she may 
seem from the outside, devoid of battlements, ordnance 
and weapons, exposed to all the attacks of the enemy, 
situated in the midst of the enemy's camp. Why, then, 
does she not fear ? Why does she even dare to be glad ? 
"The Lord is in the midst of her." Jesus dwells in 
His believers. They are all the "habitation of God 
i through the Spirit" (Eph. 2: 22; 3: 17). Therefore she 
is glad. She has the streams of the river, yea, living 
rivers of water within (Joel 3: 18; John 7: 38; Ezek. 
47: 1). The comfort of the Holy Spirit gladdens, 
strengthens and preserves her, so that she remains un- 
moved "though the earth be removed and the mountains 
be carried into the midst of the sea." She is a rock in 
the sea. All waters and billows break against her. She 



2J2 

conquers all by Him who is with her, who never forsakes 
her, who makes her strong and mighty. Therefore, 
do not lose courage, ye believing souls. As long as 
you have the Lord with you, you shall not be moved. 
Only see to it that the Lord abides in you. If you depart 
from Him, or if He depart from you; if you fail to 
cling to Him; if you be not enclosed in Him as in a 
fortress and surrounded by Him as by a cordon of char- 
iots, you will be put to shame. But he who abides in 
Him may sing, "As the mountains are round about Jeru- 
salem, so the Lord is round about His people from 
henceforth even forever" (Ps. 125: 2). 

Savior, if of Zion's city 
I, through grace, a member am, 
Let the world deride or pity, 
I will glory in Thy Name. 
Fading is the worldling's pleasure, 
All his boasted pomp and show; 
Solid joys and lasting treasure 
None but Zion's children know. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I desire 
to depart, and to be with Christ. Phil. 1: 21. 23. And so 
shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one 
another with these words. 1 Thes. 4: 17. 18. 

Christians have always regarded the departure from 
this life as a going home. As a child who sojourns in 
a foreign land receives with joy and gladness the news 
that it is to return to the ancestral home, to its native 
country, so the Christian rejoices when he thinks of 
the last moment of his earthly life — a moment that shall 
translate him to his eternal home, to his father's house. 
In this as well as in many other respects, death is a 
great, yea, the greatest gain, if Christ be our life. This 
must not be overlooked. He who in truth can say with 
the apostle, "To live is Christ," will also with the full 
consent of his heart be able to say, "And to die is gain." 
If Christ lives in you, you shall not die, but you shall 
gain infinitely by that which is called death. You shall 



273 

no more be in danger of losing that life which you here 
begin in Christ. You shall be brought into safety and 
live eternally glorified and blessed in Christ with God. 
Shall not he who regards death, terrible to all the world, 
in this beautiful and delightful form, desire with St. 
Paul to depart ? Should he not live more in the world to 
come, where he is assured that he shall remain through 
all eternity? In this world he walks as a pilgrim and 
has no lasting habitation. True, as with St. Paul, it 
must be done in perfect resignation so that for the sake 
of the Lord and the brethren we are willing to remain 
here as long as it may be of any benefit ; but no Chris- 
tian is without longing for home, without life in heaven. 
The joyful and living hope of once being forever with 
the Lord, lifts him even now up to the homelike man- 
sions of eternal peace. 

Grant me to murmur not, 
Heaven is my home. 
Whate'er my earthly lot, 
Heaven is my home. 
Grant me at last to stand 
There at Thine own right hand, 
Jesus, in Fatherland: 
Heaven is my home. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful 
unto me according to thy word. Ps. 119: 58. Ask, and it 
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it 
shall be opened unto you; for every ojie that asketh receiv- 
eth: and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh 
it shall be opened. Mat. 7: 7 flw. 

The permission or right to appear before the face 
of God and to pray, is a mercy that can not be valued 
•highly enough, nor sufficiently acknowledged and prized 
by any child of man. It is a privilege above all other 
privileges, a treasure to be preferred far above all other 
treasures. If a goldmine or a silvermine, a sea full of 
pearls and gems, were at your disposal, it ought not to 
be as dear and precious to you, or be able to make you 
as happy, rich and excellent as the right to pray, to come 



274 

to God and His treasury of grace, and draw from that 
all that you need. Oh, that all men understood this! 
Oh, that all men knew what lies reserved here for them 
who make use of prayer and who draw near to God in 
prayer ! He who understands this, makes use of prayer 
first and above all and as often as possible. Every min- 
ute that he can use for that purpose is precious. When 
others think, I must go here or there to find gain, 
honor and pleasure, then he who is a judge of prayer 
thinks, I know of no better place, no happier course, 
no richer spring to all riches, honor and joy, than prayer, 
the communion with God. There I become rich, hon- 
ored, favored, happy and excellent more than in any 
other place in heaven or on earth. Therefore he goes 
most frequently to prayer and does not allow himself by 
any inducement or enticement or for any price what- 
ever, to be kept from prayer. 

Oh, let us to His courts repair, 
And bow with adoration there; 
Low on our knees with reverence fall, 
And on the Lord our Maker call. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we 
wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps 
upon the willows. — — — How shall we sing the LorcFs 

song in a strange land? Ps. 137: 1. 4. Weep not. 

Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. Luke 7: 13; 8: 52. 
Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. John 
16: 20. Weep not: behold the lion — — hath prevailed. 
Rev. 5: 5. 

Must not the children of Israel weep when, after 
being torn away from their Zion, they sit by the rivers 
of Babylon in a strange land? Shall they not weep 
when robbed of that which was dearest to them and 
cast among the Babylonians? They cannot do other- 
wise; the Lord Himself had told them, Ye shall weep. 
And yet Babylon, that laughs at the chastisement of God's 
children, had greater cause to weep. The children of 
God must weep when they are oppressed and driven by 






275 

Babylon. But they are not comfortless, nor despondent, 
nor hopeless. It is their lot to weep because of the 
present time ; but they also rejoice in the future and its 
promises. For "the redeemed of the Lord shall return : 
and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall 
obtain gladness and joy" (Is. 51: 11). Shall not a 
widow weep, when she has lost her only child? a teach- 
er, when he has lost his pupil? a congregation, when it 
has lost its pastor and become like a widow and as one 
fatherless? "Weep not," says the Lord who is "the 
God of salvation" and to whom "belong the issues from 
death" (Ps. 68: 20). Must we not weep when we look 
into the dark future unable to see anything, when no 
one can open the book of the secret counsels of God 
and to read it? Must we not weep when black night, 
severe afflictions, threaten us on all sides and a ray of 
help and comfort is nowhere to be seeen? No. "Weep 
not," says the voice ; "the Lion of the tribe of God hath 
prevailed. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be 
of good cheer. I have overcome the world" (John 16: 
33). We all must weep; yet the Christian weeps other 
tears in his sorrow than the world in its woe. The for- 
mer's tears are mixed with comfort and hope and are 
easily and soon dried. 

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, 
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, 
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, 
"Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not cure." 



THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

It is good for me to draw near to God. Ps. 73: 28. Come 
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, 
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 
2 Cor. 6: 17. He that is not with me is against me: and 
he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Luke 11: 23. 

God draws near to those only who draw near to 
Him. He who does not remain with Christ in the Spirit, 
scatters. He who does not gather all the thoughts, 
longings and actions of the heart, soul and body, and 
ever turn them toward Christ, is poured out as water 



2j6 

and scattered as chaff before the wind. How can such a 
person possess and enjoy Christ? how can he be a par- 
taker of Christ? Christ desires that the whole heart 
and being of man, all the faculties of the soul, be gath- 
ered and united to Him and in Him. He who is not 
thus with Christ and gathers with Him, is against Him 
and scatters, divides his strength and loses himself. The 
separation from the world, from wicked men., who hate 
God and the Word of God, who despise edification, 
prayer and devotion, and enjoy only vapid entertain- 
ments, news and pastimes, is an essential condition stip- 
ulated by the Lord God Himself both for preachers and 
hearers. Such separation has also the promise, when 
we steadfastly observe it, and do not join ourselves to 
the world and to wicked men, that it is more likely that 
they will join us and turn to that which is good (Jer. 
15: 19). If you do not allow yourself to be perverted 
by evil, then those who are evil will allow themselves 
to become converted by you. Be steadfast, so that the 
ungodly world rather becomes godly through you than 
you become ungodly through it. 

He knows what tends to our well-being; 
He knows just when to comfort us; 
If we are faithful, ever fleeing 
Deceitful lusts and wickedness, 
He comes before we are aware, 
And manifests His loving care. 



MONDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- 
ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at 
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that 

love his appearing. And the Lord shall deliver me 

from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heav- 
enly kingdom. 2 Tim. 4: '8. 18. 

What a beautiful outlook! As dark as it often is 
beneath the clouds, so clear and beautiful it is beyond 
them. He who stands upon a high mountain has the 
storm and the clouds beneath his feet and sees the clear 
sky above him. He who raises himself in faith above 



277 

the sorrows and afflictions of this world and clings to 
the Word of God and His promises, sees before him 
the clear heaven, sees with undimmed eye that crown 
and glory which his Savior presents to him in His Word 
and reserves for him in His kingdom. He thinks, It 
is in safe hands; from Him none shall take it away. 
Who can take from me that which He has laid up for 
me? He who possesses this living hope cannot but long 
for its fulfillment and console himself therewith. He 
cannot keep his heart here ; it escapes and tarries beyond, 
where is his eternal home and glory. For this strength- 
ens the old and weary pilgrim. It eases his feet and is a 
refreshing beverage, a healing salve for the feet of the 
wanderer. What St. Paul says with such certainty is 
a matter of joy, "The Lord shall give to me the crown 
of righteousness, and not to me only, but unto all them 
also that love His appearing." He who waits for Him 
from one morning- watch to the other; who can hardly 
wait till He comes ; who would rather see Him to-day 
than have to wait till to-morrow; who lives thus in 
ardent longing for Christ, shall receive the crown and 
the glory from His hand as surely as St. Paul received it. 

Thou our only Hope and Guide! 
Never leave us or forsake: 
In Thy light may we abide 
Till the endless morning break; 
Moving on to Zion's hill, 
Onward, upward, homeward still! 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace m 
thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee. — 

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people 
have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest 
with us? Ex. 33: 13-16; 34: 9. 

The Lord said to Moses, "Depart, and go up hence, 

thou and the people; and I will send an angel 

before thee." But Moses said, "If Thy presence go not 



278 

with us, let us remain where we are. We will not go 
without Thee." Thus did Moses cling to the Lord and 
to His presence as a child to its mother. He would not 
take one step without Him, would not himself guide the 
people : the Lord should guide him and the people by 
His countenance. How am I to> know the way? Thus 
said also the disciples of Jesus (John 14). Thus thinks 
and says every disciple of Jesus; he dare not take a 
step without the Lord. He does not want an angel only ; 
no, he wants the Lord Himself. If the Lord was moved 
by Moses and the stiff-necked people that so often of- 
fended Him, to go with them, will He then refuse your 
prayer, when you as earnestly as Moses desire His guid- 
ance? Will He who promised, "I will not leave you 
comfortless ; I will come unto you ; I am with you alway 
even to the end of the world ; where two or three are 
gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst 
of them;" — will He leave you alone? How delightfully, 
how safely one walks when He goes before, when His 
countenance gives light! But he who trusts in himself 
and guides himself or allows himself to be guided by 
men, will have many a weary step, go backward rather 
than forward, and fall in many a pit. He who diligently 
looks toward the pillar of a cloud and the pillar of fire, 
the presence of the Lord in the heart, who in his goings 
and comings is guided by Him, as were the children of 
Israel, will safely and cheerfully walk through the des- 
ert of this present life and find the Land of Promise. 
Should the people of the old covenant have better guid- 
ance than the Lord's people of the new covenant ? Shall 
not we also have a pillar of fire going on before us? 
Should the Lord only go with the bondmen of the law 
and not with the children of peace? 

Ever be Thou our guide, 
Our shepherd and our pride, 
Our staff and song.; 
Jesus, Thou Christ of God, 
By Thy perennial Word, 
Lead us where Thou hast trod, 
Make our faith strong. 



279 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen 
the righteous forsake/i, nor his seed begging bread. Ps. 
37: 25. We are persecuted, but not forsaken. 2 Cor. 4: 9. 
For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's 
sake. 1 Sam. 12: 22. 

David had seen and experienced much in the world, 
but he had not seen that God had forsaken or withdrawn 
His hand from any one who trusted in Him. He says, 
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous." This, how- 
ever, is not the same as being "forsaken" by God, but 
rather the same as being loved and visited by God ; 
and he adds, "The Lord delivereth him out of them all" 
(Ps. 34: 19). When he was in such a strait that he 
nowhere could discover any comfort, he said, "My hope 
is in Thee" (Ps. 39: 7). It is a false way of thinking 
and speaking when, from the afflictions and persecu- 
tions which God permits to come upon us, we draw the 
conclusion that He has forsaken us. On the contrary, 
He has thereby visited us. Such ordeals should be to 
us a proof that God thinks of us. It is especially 
in afflictions and persecutions that we perceive Him the 
most, His presence, His wonderful help and mediation. 
We ought rather say, The Lord has forgotten me and 
forsaken me when I am not persecuted nor afflicted. 
Ask one who is afflicted and persecuted in Christ, if God 
has ever been nearer to him than when men and devils 
were against him and fell upon him in rage. When all 
men, friends as well as enemies, rise against us, when 
our father and mother forsake us, then the Lord takes 
us up, as is written in Ps. 27: 10. This psalm shows 
how he who is persecuted and forsaken by men feels 
when he knows that the Lord is near and His light 
shines for him. 

Whatever the burden be, 

The cross upon me laid, 

Or want or shame, I look to Thee; 

Be Thou, O Christ, my Aid. 



28o 

THURSDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye 
should obey it in the lusts thereof. Rom. 6: 12. They that 
are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and 
lusts. Gal. 5: 24. Flee also youthful lusts. 2 Tim. 2: 22. 

We do not become free from temptations and 
lusts ; but from the reign of the lusts we must be 
free or become free by faith in Christ. For when 
Christ reigns in us, sin with its lusts can not reign in 
us at the same time. If sin is yet lord of the house, 
Christ is not in us. Yet we must distinguish between 
temptation and dominion. You may be tempted and 
enticed to all evil, and yet be free and by the temptation 
become even more free from all evil. Many good souls 
think, when they are in Christ, that they should feel no 
more temptation. But it is as Christians that we 
have the most to do with temptation, as long as we 
live in the tabernacle of sin, the flesh. Sin has 
by conversion to Christ lost its crown and scepter 
in you. Sin can not abide this with indifference. 
Who would like to be robbed of his real or imag- 
inary ■ right and rule ? Sin, therefore, seeks ever 
to dislodge Christ and once more seize its old power. 
It will not cease to do this untill it is carried with 
the body to the grave. Therefore, never be secure. 
Sin hides itself as the snake in the grass and attacks 
you suddenly when you least expect it. But if you are 
in Christ and abide unceasingly in Him, sin may be 
able to tempt you but not to overcome you. Sin is 
able only to try your faith, your affection and love to 
Christ, to strengthen you in the struggle and make you 
more and more its enemy and opponent. 

From all Thy foes, their craft, their sword, 
Protect us, Lord; maintain Thy Word; 
Mercy Thy Name, that shall endure, 
Here let us ever rest secure. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; 
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, 



28 1 

saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For the mountains shall de- 
part, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not 
depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be 
removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Is. 
54: 8. 10. 

Our gracious God speaks of His "wrath" and ad- 
mits that He sometimes becomes wroth and that in 
His holy and righteous wrath He turns His face away 
even from those whom He loves and upon whom He, 
with everlasting kindness, has mercy. We can, how- 
ever, not conceive of any passionate anger in God such 
as men have. In God everything, even His displeasure 
and disapproval of our infidelity, is pure love and wis- 
dom. When we go astray, are unfaithful, and vex His 
Spirit, He turns His kind countenance from us, and a 
child of God feels that as keenly as if His face were 
changed into an expression of disfavor and wrath. God 
is Father, we know that ; but He is no Eli. When the 
children do not follow the right paths, He lets them 
feel it immediately. Our age imagines God to be like 
Eli ; a God who never grows angry with His children, 
no matter what wicked rogues they be. But the gra- 
cious God tells us something different. He who has 
seen Him and knows Him from experience and com- 
munion with Him, also knows that God often takes on 
a frowning countenance that is almost unbearable. Nev- 
ertheless, do not lose courage, though you many a time 
must feel the wrath of the Father. He is not angry with 
you in order to destroy you. His wrath shall cause 
you no loss : it is as beneficial as His love. His strokes 
benefit you more than His kisses, and He will soon turn 
to you again. His mercy is everlasting toward you, 
if you only turn back to Him and let His wrath serve 
to your betterment. 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 
But trust Him for His grace; 
Behind a frowning Providence 
He hides a smiling face. 



282 

SATURDAY AFTER THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth 
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be 
given him- James 1: 5. Who is a wise man and endued 
with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good con- 
versation his works with meekness of wisdom. James 3: 13. 

That which God regards as foolishness, the world 
regards as wisdom ; and reversely, he that is wise before 
God is a fool in the eyes of the world. Therefore St. 
Paul says, "Professing themselves to be wise, they be- 
came fools" (Rom. i : 22) ; and, "If any man among 
you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a 
fool, that he may be wise" (1 Cor. 3: 18). He also 
says plainly, that "not many wise men after the flesh are 
called," but nearly all fools — in the eyes of the world 
(1 Cor. 1: 26). For to become a Christian and to 
become a dolt are in the eyes of the world the 
same thing. To strive to attain "wisdom" means, then, 
to strive to attain true Christianity; and to be "wise" 
means to be a Christian, for all "the treasures of wisdom" 
are hid in the mystery of God and of Christ (Col. 2: 
2. 3). "Christ is of God made unto us wisdom." 
He who has put on Christ, has put on wisdom. He 
that is without Christ is a fool, no matter how much he 
knows. The word of the cross is the school of true 
wisdom, even though it is to the world mere foolishness 
and weakness (1 Cor. 1: 23. 24). When you regard 
yourself as the greatest fool and the greatest sinner; 
when you lay hold of Christ with your whole soul as 
your only salvation, trust in Him alone and at every 
thought and step keep your eye on Him, then are you 
the wisest man on earth. Not to know anything save 
Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is the wisdom of the 
new covenant, and it will be the wisdom of the eternal 
covenant. 

Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design, 
Are framed upon Thy throne above, 
And every dark and bending line 
Meets in the center of Thy love. 



283 

My favored soul shall meekly learn 
To lay her reason at Thy throne; 
Too weak Thy secrets to discern, 
I'll trust Thee for my guide alone. 



THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going 
about to establish their own righteousness, have not sub- 
mitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Rom. 
10: 3. And all the churches shall know that I am he which 
searcheth the reins and hearts. Rev. 2: 23. I am thy ser- 
vant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testi- 
monies. Ps. 119: 125. 

The reason why men do not know the righteousness 
which God through Christ creates in us, is that they do 
not know and are unwilling to know their own unright- 
eousness and sinfulness Men lie to themselves. They' 
are righteous and virtuous and think that they do not 
need justification in Christ. It is difficult for men to 
believe that all "come short of the glory of God," that 
they have not the least thing in which they may glory 
before God, who searches the reins and hearts ; who sees 
deeper than human eyes ; who sees the secret motives 
of every action. All our deeds are, as a rule, more or less 
tainted and consequently unrighteous. Therefore the 
much-praised righteousness of man is in the eyes of God 
an abominable unrighteousness, a polluted garment, all 
the more so because such a fine sign is put up and such 
a poor host dwells inside ; our own righteousness is an 
article nicely gotten up outwardly but corrupt inwardly. 
He who, by the aid of the light of God knows himself, 
because he prays with David, "Give me understanding, 
that I may know Thy testimonies" — concerning my 
righteousness and Thy righteousness — does not trust in 
his own righteousness, but prays for justification in 
Christ, that his sins may be forgiven, and his soul be 
healed and cleansed from the filthiness of the body and 
the spirit. 

Our pardon is Thy gift; Thy love 
And grace alone avail us. 



284 

Our works could ne'er our guilt remove, 
The strictest life must fail us. 
That none may boast himself of ought, 
But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought 
What in him seemeth righteous. 



MONDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same 
love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done 
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let 
each esteem other better than themselves. Phil. 2: 2. 3. 
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know 
that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 
3: 15. 

Jesus prays earnestly to His Father for unity (John 
17). It must, therefore, be very important to possess 
it, and to maintain it, and very dangerous to lose it. 
He who does not watch and pray will be unable to retain 
this love of unity. It often costs much wrestling and 
a severe struggle in the spirit to fell and by prayer to 
drive the devil away. He is ever anxious to cause discord 
among the brethren. Where dissension reigns, Satan 
has surely a hand in it. For where there is discord there 
is Satan's kingdom, and there he reigns. He always seeks 
to put asunder what God joins together. His motto is. 
Divide et imp era: Divide, and you shall rule. Watch, 
therefore, and pray the God of love, the triune God, 
to maintain unity among you. Tread Satan under foot 
and let not love, the bond of perfection, be torn asunder. 
When no one seeks his own, but that which profits 
others ; when everyone fights against vanity, vainglory 
and conceit in, his heart, and strives to have Jesus only 
in the heart, then love shall never depart, peace never be 
destroyed, and God shall forever dwell among you. 
Do not give Satan the joy of seeing you separated from 
each other and from Qhrist. For if you agree not among 
yourselves, neither do you agree with Christ. He who 
has lost love and humility, concord and peace, has lost 
Christ and life eternal. Discord breeds hatred, and 



28s 

where there is hatred, Christ, the life eternal, can not 
remain. Death and hell reign there. 

Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love: 
The fellowship of kindred minds 
Is like to that above. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I have hated the congregation of evil-doers; and will not 
sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: 
so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. Ps. 26: 5. 6. Verily 
I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in 
innocency. Ps. 73: 13. 

The question is not here of that "innocence" which 
we ought to have before God ; we all lack that innocence ; 
for before God no man is innocent, but all are sinners 
(Rom. 3 : 23 ; Job 14: 4). Only in comparison with the 
ungodly, who are without God and without His com- 
mandments in the world, may the godly man, the 
pardoned sinner, who keeps the Word of God and by 
God's grace shuns sin as much as possible, be called 
innocent. This is what the psalmist means when he 
says, "I have washed my hands in innocency. I will 
take no part in the wickedness of the world." When he 
saw that the ungodly man was prosperous and that the 
righteous man had to suffer a great deal, he almost be- 
came confused in his thoughts concerning God, so that 
he asked, "Yea, in vain have I cleansed my heart and 
washed my hands in innocency, since I nevertheless 
suffer so many reverses and afflictions. Thus did I 
nearly speak, but thereby would I have condemned all 
Thy children, all Thy godly men, that ever existed. For 
these, all of them, had to suffer trouble and affliction 
and to see the ungodly live at their side in happiness. 
But when I took notice of their end and saw how sud- 
denly they were destroyed, I found it better to live 
uprightly and to suffer than to live happily but ungodly 
and perish." These thoughts are weighty and deserve 
to be earnestly considered, that we may be strengthened 



286 

thereby, and that we may not be robbed of that simplicity 
which leads to Christ by the treacherous world that ever 
scoffs at piety, boasts of its happiness, and considers and 
despises the righteous man as a fool and a fanatic. You 
must take no notice of the gibes of the world. Only look 
to Him whose approval shall be your portion forever and 
shall make you eternally happy. The world with its 
happiness shall perish ; but the Lord remains forever. 
He who clings to Him shall be blest when all the world 
shall howl and gnash its teeth. 

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 
If needy here and poor, 
Give me Thy people's bread, 
Their portion rich and sure. 
The manna of Thy Word 
Let my soul feed upon; 
And if all else should fail, 
My Lord, Thy will be done. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be 
wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth 
her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the har- 
vest. Prov. 6: 6-8. 

This is an admonition to diligence and activity in 
temporal things. The admonition is undoubtedly very 
necessary and commendable, because these insects by 
their industry put all men to shame. If we may learn 
from them in this temporal respect, why then not much 
more in regard to spiritual things? Look at the bees, 
for instance ; their whole mode of life is the picture of a 
true believer. They draw the juice from which they 
produce honey and wax, pleasant and useful things, and 
from which they also make their dwellings, out of the 
flowers of the field. They enter the cups of the flowers 
as far as possible, and draw out as much as they 
are able to carry. To the Christian the Word of 
God is the most delightful, the sweetest and richest 
flower-garden. In this garden he alights now on this 
flower, now on that. He enters as far as possible into 



287 

the cup of the suffering and cross of Christ. He draws 
juice and strength therefrom and in his own heart by 
prayer and diligence he prepares it to his own edification 
and salvation as well as to the edification and salvation 
of others. Christ's words and deeds are not only kind, 
sweet and delightful, but also beneficial, salutary and rich 
in blessing. He creates joy and usefulness round about 
him. He who by meditation upon God's Word and by 
sojourning under the cross of Christ is filled by as much 
blessing and power as the bee that returns well loaded 
from the flowers, becomes a blessing to the land in which 
he dwells, a light to those who surround him. The 
affection of the bees for their queen is no less delightful 
to the heart of the Christian, who is unable to live with- 
out Christ, who follows Him everywhere and tarries 
where He tarries. But that which above all things 
deserves emulation is the secret activity of the bees, 
during which they will allow no one to see them with 
their queen. They are untiring in their work. They 
take great care to cover it, building into all windows and 
openings through which one might observe them. Thus 
the Christian does not let his left hand know what his 
right hand doeth. It is enough for him that He who 
sees in secret knows. He does not place his deeds on 
exhibition ; he does not do good to be seen of men. 
Furthermore, the bee does not spin out of her own self 
as the spider, but she seeks what God has given. Thus 
the Christian seeks nothing in himself; he seeks only 
where the right juice is to be found : in the Word of 
Christ and in the fellowship of His sufferings. 

See, to Thee I yield my heart; 
Shed Thy life through every part. 
A pure temple I would be, 
Wholly dedicate to Thee. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, 
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 
Gen. 50: 20. His work is perfect: for all his ways are 



288 

judgme-nt: « God of truth and without iniquity, just and 
right is he. Deut. 32: 4. If ye endure chastening, God deal- 
eth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the 
father chasteneth not? Heb. 12: 7. 

We forget so easily that God is our Father and that 
His intention is good and fatherly in all things that He 
permits to come upon us ; He can intend nothing evil. 
How could He w'ho is eternally good do anything evil 
to us, or permit anything that causes us harm, if we love 
Him? However much evil men intend against us, as 
Joseph's brethren when they sold him into Egypt, yet 
God means it for the best when He permits such things 
to take place. Even when the brother is sold, God sees 
the brethren buying corn from the brother that was 
sold, who by his stores rescues them and their father 
from death by starvation. As Joseph is being thrown 
into the well, God sees that this well is the way that 
leads to the throne. Every one who trusts in God will 
experience something similar. He shall at last be able 
to say to his persecutors, "Ye thought evil against me; 
but God meant it unto good." God uses the wickedness 
of men as a rod with which He chastises His children 
and makes them good. Therefore, murmur not; do not 
lose courage ; do not doubt the goodness of God when 
He permits things that no human mind can comprehend. 
Think always as Joseph and Moses thought: God's 
works are perfect ; all His ways are right. God is faith- 
ful ; He is our Father and trains us as children who 
need chastisement. If we were not evil, God would 
permit no evil to come upon us ; but in this way He 
would curb the evil in us by the evil from without. By 
afflictions which in His hand are always good and salu- 
tary, God frees us from afflictions. 

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 
Oh, may Thy will be mine! 
Into Thy hand of love 
I would my all resign. 
Through sorrow as through joy 
Conduct me as Thine own, 
And help me still to say, 
My Lord, Thy will be done! 



289 

FRIDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, 
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a 
tinkling cymbal. 1 Cor. 13: 1, 

The apostle who speaks so much of faith and makes 
it the only condition of salvation, shows in this chapter, 
as in all the epistles, clearly enough what kind of faith 
he means. Faith and charity with him are the same 
things. Faith without charity is as a shell without the 
kernel. All talk about faith not united with charity is 
like "a tinkling cymbal," a corpse without a soul. Oh, 
that those who speak so unconditionally of faith and so 
readily quote the apostle Paul, would not overlook nor 
forget that the same apostle here links faith in such a 
way to charity, that he makes it dependent upon charity, 
and that without charity faith is nothing and comes to 
shame before God. When men hear such a declaration 
of Scripture, they are at once ready to compose them- 
selves and think, "I submit to that. If I need do nothing 
but believe, then I am soon done with it." We forget 
to investigate and to ask, What faith does the- apostle 
mean? It is evident that true faith is something grand 
because it works such great things. Faith cannot be 
the possession of everybody, since the faith usually seen 
accomplishes so little. In short, if all who imagine them- 
selves heroes of faith would thoroughly weigh this 
chapter, they would soon be shipwrecked as to their 
faith and discover that their faith is aground on a sand- 
bar and that they in reality have no faith because they 
have no charity. Alas ! how many disappointments there 
are in man's most sacred and important concern. How 
must we not watch, pray and examine ourselves before 
the face of God, that selfishness shall not delude us and 
declare us saved without charity, which is the true and 
unmistakable criterion of the blessed children of God. 
All is nothing, even all that is good is in vain, if it be not 
sanctified by love. Come, sweet Charity, come and fill 
us wholly and completely ! 



290 

Come, Almighty, to deliver, 
Let us all Thy life receive; 
Graciously return, and never, 
Never more Thy temples leave! 
Thee we would be always blessing, 
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above, 
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing, 
Glory in Thy precious love. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold 
not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, 
and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that 
I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. 
Ps. 39: 12. 13. For here have we no continuing city, but 
we seek one to come. Heb. 13: 14; 1 Chron. 29: 15. 

The saints of old felt that they were not at home 
here. They were all home-sick. They regarded them- 
selves as strangers, as sojourners who for some time are 
received only and allowed on foreign soil. They cannot 
help longing for their native country. He who loves 
his native land never feels so contented as when he is 
on the home soil, no matter how prosperous he may be. 
He can never forget it. Blessed is he who feels himself 
a stranger upon the earth. Blessed is he who never 
feels perfectly contented here, except in so far as even 
on earth he lives in heaven. Though many earthly 
joys smile upon an heir of heaven, he nevertheless thinks, 
"It is far different beyond. Here all is nothing. Oh, 
that I were at home !" Here everything is in reality but 
a discipline and a trial. It is only in view of this that he 
readily remains here awhile, as none who is untried, no 
child that has lacked chastisement, is permitted to enter 
the home in heaven. Notwithstanding all this, the pil- 
grim sighs, "Oh, spare me ! — stay the chastisement awhile, 
that I may recover strength, before I go hence." He 
sighs for some ray of grace, and longs for the sun now 
and then to penetrate the clouds, that he at least may 
see a rift in the sky, a glimpse of his home. Thus 
clings the heart to the heavenly home when it has made 
sure of its sonship and right as an heir. 



291 

Draw us to Thee, and teach us 
E'en now that rest to find, 
Where turmoils cannot reach us, 
Nor cares weigh down our mind. 



THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 



Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I 
cannot attain unto it. Ps. 139: 6. If I have told you 
earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if 
I tell you of heavenly things? John 3: 12. 

David could not comprehend the omnipresence and 
the omniscience of God, but placed them nevertheless 
vividly before his eves, and lived in the enjoyment of 
the mystery he did not understand. Therein he did right. 
Nicodemus wanted regeneration more intelligibly ex- 
plained, so that he could understand it ; but this the 
Savior did not like, and upbraided him that he did not 
believe upon the mere testimony of Jesus that which he 
would never be able to comprehend. Ezra troubled his 
head by trying to reason out the origin of evil and the 
wonderful ways and providences of God, until he had 
soared too high ; and Uriel helped him down again by 
presenting to him these three problems, viz : "Weigh the 
fire, measure the wind, bring the day of yesterday back." 
When Ezra answered, "Who beneath the heavens can 
do that?" Uriel answered, "When you do not understand 
that which grows up with you, and which is so closely 
related to you, how then can you think of understanding 
that which lies so high, how can you think of compre- 
hending the ways of the Most High?" (Ezra's Book 4, 
chap. 4*). Let this serve you as a warning that you do 
not ask to comprehend that which is too high or too 
deep for you, but that you seek to comprehend that 
which God has placed near you. He Himself by the 
light of His Spirit explains to your heart all salutary 
truths and makes you blessed in the enjoyment of 
them. Do not ponder on the unsearchable mysteries of 
election, of predestination, of universal restoration, and 

*) This book is apocryphal, and to be had in Latin only. 



292 

the like, but use all diligence, all your faculties, and 
every moment of your time in thinking, speaking, and 
acting as an elect, foreordained and redeemed Christian. 
Do not ponder on the origin of evil ; rather drive evil 
out of your heart and stop the fountain of evil in you 
by intimate communion with that which is good, into 
which you have been incorporated through Christ. Do 
not ponder on the duration of infernal punishment, but 
become good and saved by your Redeemer's grace, that 
you may be worthy and certain of a blessed eternity, 
and escape the wrath to come. For the moments that are 
granted to you for that purpose are short, and you have 
not a single one to spare for other things. If you want 
to be saved, do not lose a single hour. Make haste and 
be saved. 

Blind unbelief is sure to err, 

And scan His works in vain; 

God is His own interpreter, 

And He will make it plain. 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the 
enemy? Ps. 42: 10; 43: 2. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, 
though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness 
through manifold temptations- 1 Pet. 1: 6. Cfr. Heb. 12: 11, 
and 2 Cor. 7: 10. Weeping may endure for a night, but 
joy cometh in the morning. Ps. 30: 5. 

The first experiences of grace make the heart so 
happy that it thinks itself translated into heaven and 
deems it impossible ever again to become sorrowful. 
It feels only joy in Jesus and with Jesus, and regards 
all else as nothing. Every affliction seems sweet and 
pleasant. The heart rejoices to bear it for Jesus' sake. 
But soon there is a change and the heart will not sub- 
mit to it. The poor heart is not yet capable o<f perfect, 
unceasing joy. Many things still lie hidden in it which 
first must be driven out by afflictions. There is yet 
much impurity in its joy, that can be melted only by 
the heat of tribulation as dross is separated from gold. 



293 

But if the soul surrender in a child-like manner to the 
Purifier, every affliction generates a new and greater 
joy. In joy one does not know himself but regards 
himself as perfectly holy and good. Afflictions and 
temptations unveil the evil depths and give us an insight 
into our inner man and we discover things which we 
would never have found if the Lord had not enlight- 
ened our hearts by the light of the cross. No light 
is purer and clearer than the light of the cross, the 
heat of tribulation. By it we see that which we do 
not see in broad daylight. During temptation it seems 
as if all lights were gone out, and all were darkness; 
and yet we see more by this twilight than by the light 
of joy. 

Be it with me as He is willing, 
Whose mercy is a boundless sea;' 
May He Himself my heart be stilling, 
That this may ne'er forgotten be; 
Then it will rest in joy and woe, 
On mercy, while it beats below. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



If any man will come after me, let him deny himself. Luke 
9: 23. Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after 

me — whosoever forsaketh not all that he hath, he 

cannot be my disciple. Luke 14: 27. 33. Be ye therefore fol- 
lowers of God, as dear children. Eph. 5: 1. Be not slothful, 
but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit 
the promises. Heb. 6: 12. 

By His merits Christ has redeemed us from sin, but 
not from following Him, much more to His imitation. 
Whoever believes that by Christ's merits and justifi- 
cation he is not only set free from the punishment and 
condemnation of sin, but also from its power and rule, 
that he no longer must serve sin as a chained bondman, 
but has by Christ received and receives daily grace, power 
and life, so that he now voluntarily clings to the Savior, 
follows after Him, and becomes like Him, has the true 
faith regarding redemption. All others remain in the 
prison, in the chains of sin, of the flesh and of the world, 



294 

and shout, We are redeemed ! Who will believe the dec- 
laration of these fools that they are free, so long as they 
carry chains and sit in prison? Christ has emphatically 
made the imitation of His holy life, self-denial and 
patience, a condition of being His disciple. He who 
emancipates himself therefrom, renounces Christ, His 
Spirit and His Gospel. For this is a "power of God 
unto salvation" for the whole man. There are many who 
boast of the doctrine of justification and laugh at the 
imitation of Christ, and disregard it as something per- 
taining to the law, exactly as if Christ were dead for 
sinners that they might live lawlessly to sin and to the 
world, and not to Him who died for them. According 
to St. Paul, you will not inherit the promise by a faith 
that makes Christ a servant of sin, but by "faith and 
patience," that is, by a faith that works patience and 
gives you strength to carry your cross, to deny your- 
self, and to become like unto Christ — a follower of God. 

Breathe, oh, breathe Thy loving Spirit 

Into every troubled breast! 

Let us all in Thee inherit, 

Let us find the promised rest. 

Take away the love of sinning, 

Alpha and Omega be; 

End of faith, as its beginning, . , 

Set our hearts at liberty. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Mat. 
14: 31. Abraham staggered not at the promise of God 
through unbelief. Rom. 4: 20. 

He who wilfully doubts, has no faith and confidence ; 
or, he has a treacherous, false heart which is not up- 
right before God : he will not repent nor confess 
his sins and unfaithfulness to the Savior, so as not 
to be obliged to put off sin. He who is weak, but 
honestly confesses his sins and repents before God and 
prays for grace and mercy for the sake of Jesus, his 
Redeemer, should never doubt His mercy and faithful- 
ness; otherwise he denies the truthfulness of God, dis- 



295 

honors His Word, and gainsays the clear sayings and 
promises in which God proclaims and secures to us all 
that we pray for with an honest heart and a confident 
faith in Jesus' name. There are, however, weak and 
tempted souls, who, in spite of all the uprightness of 
their hearts, doubt, or are, at least, troubled by involun- 
tary, hateful doubts which come from hell. So far from 
harming them, such doubts rather train their faith, when 
they, notwithstanding all diligence, are unable to keep 
them away by prayer and watchfulness, and do not wil- 
fully consent to them but reject and condemn them. 
We must, however, always examine ourselves and investi- 
gate whether the reason of our doubt lies in our own 
heart, or whether they do not rise from some impurity 
of the heart. Pray earnestly, pray unceasingly, for light 
to see if anything lies hidden in your heart. Only be 
honest, and you need not doubt that the Lord will grant, 
your prayer, for He has said so. 

Just as I am, though tossed about 
With many a conflict, many a doubt, 
Fightings and fears within, without, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come! 



THURSDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea pleasant. Cant. 1: 
16. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up 
for them that fear thee. Ps. 31: 19. 

When God requires that we love Him with all our 
heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength, and 
with all our mind, He does not demand too much. He 
deserves our love. We owe Him love above everything 
else. He alone is worthy of all cur love. For there is 
nothing on us, nothing in us, nothing outside of us, 
above or beneath us ; there is nothing in all the world, 
and in all the heavens, which His love, unmerited by us, 
has not created, given or promised us. If all this can 
not move us to love Him, then this fact alone, that He 
has sent to us Jesus, who blots out our sins, and is the 
fountain of eternal life, ought to be sufficient to present 



296 

God to us as the most lovable one. It is this grace 
which gives to all other divine acts of love their true 
value. What would heaven and earth be to us if there 
were no Jesus, who reconciled us to God, justified, 
cleansed and sanctified us? Then we could neither enjoy 
God nor anything divine. We could not rejoice in any 
happiness if Jesus had not made us able to receive it. 
We were, and would remain, dead in sin. How shall 
they who are dead be able to love? how shall they be 
able to rejoice? Jesus being our life, He is also our 
joy, our love; we place nothing above Him. "Yes, my 
beloved," says the soul, "Thou art fair, Thou art pleas- 
ant. There is nothing fairer, nothing more pleasant than 
Thou art; for through Thee all that is fair becomes 
fair and all that is pleasant becomes pleasant." But this 
mercy and love, this blessed knowledge is hidden. His 
lovableness and fairness are known only to the hearts 
who fear Him, that is His Word; who are anxious not 
to offend Him ; who are concerned not to love anything 
outside of Him ; who have given Him their whole heart 
because He has forgiven them all their sins and taken 
up His abode in their heart. These can not sufficiently 
rejoice in Him and love Him. Their love can never have 
its fill in Him. He appears to them ever more fair, 
ever more pleasant, the more they love Him. They find 
heaven, the highest happinesss, in loving Him. 

Fair is the sunshine, 

Fairer the moonlight 

And the sparkling stars on high; 

Jesus shines brighter, 

Jesus shines purer, 

Than all the angels in the sky. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to 
stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not 
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against 
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 
against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6: 11. 12. 



297 

If Satan and his influence or his attacks upon us 
were only the phantom of a morbid imagination, St. 
Paul, and the Holy Ghost through him, would not warn 
us so anxiously against him ; he would not hand us 
such an armor against Satan, nor admonish us so emphat- 
ically to resist and fight him. Yes, my beloved, this 
enemy does certainly exist. He is terrible, shrewd and 
strong. His wiles and assaults are planned very art- 
fully and aimed in secret. This is only too true. But 
the soul experiences nothing thereof, before it has 
grasped and put on Christ. For as long as we cling to 
the world and serve flesh and blood, Satan has 
nothing whatever against us ; on the contrary, we then 
live in his favor, under his care and protection. But 
renounce the world and the flesh, and you have all devils 
aganist you, who with spiritual wickedness and treach- 
ery place nets before you and shoot fiery darts against 
you. If you are not accoutered in that armor of God 
which the apostle Paul describes in the following verses 
of the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians ; 
and if you do not fight bravely against these spiritual 
princes and mighty rulers of darkness, you will not re- 
main master of the field, but grow weary, succumb, lose 
courage and yield to the world and to Satan : you will 
be conquered and taken captive. The old lusts will 
awaken in you ; you will yield to them, and be fascinated 
by them. Therefore, "Watch and pray, that ye enter 
not into temptation" (Mat. 26: 41). 

Though devils all the world should fill, 
All watching to devour us, 
We tremble not, we fear no ill, 
They cannot overpower us. 
This world's prince may still 
Scowl fiercely as he will, 
He can harm us none; 
He's judged, the deed is done, 
One little word o'erthrows him. 



298 



SATURDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the 
Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have 
ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, 
that your joy may be full. John 16: 23. 24. And they that 
know thy name will put their trust in thee. Ps. 9: 10. For 
thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity. Ps. 25: 11. 

"Our help is in the name of the Lord" only, as 
David says (Ps. 124: 8). This was prophesied by 
Zephania, who says, "Then (in the new covenant) will 
I turn to the people a pure language (pure lips), that 
they may call upon the name of the Lord" (of 
Christ) Zeph. 3:9). "And it shall come to pass, that 
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be 
delivered" (saved and blessed) (Joel 2: 32). Blessed, 
then, is he who knows the name of Jesus, not only the 
two syllables Je-sus, but the power and salvation of this 
person, this Being in the perfect likeness of God, He 
in whom "the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily," 
who has. "received the Spirit without measure," who is 
ours with all that He is and has, because He died and 
gave Himself for us. His name, therefore, and all that 
it contains : His merits and worthiness, His power, the 
pleasure of God that rests in Him, is ours ; we may 
plead it before God, and come before God clothed in 
His name. He who thus enters into the presence of God 
shall be received, heard and pardoned ; he shall obtain 
all that he desires and asks of God. He who stands thus 
in the presence of God is immovable and firm. On the 
other hand, he who pleads the name of Jesus as did the 
exorcists of whom we read in Acts 19: 13 flw., is not 
regarded either by God or the devil. To such a person 
it will be said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but 
who art thou?" You do not belong to Jesus and Jesus 
does not belong to you. You must, therefore, put on 
Jesus, and have His name written in your heart. Then 
you can pray in the name of Jesus and expect to be 
heard. He, however, who has Jesus on the tongue, but 



299 

has the world and the devil in his heart, pleads in vain 
before God the name of His Son. 

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare, 
Jesus loves to answer prayer: 
He Himself has bid thee pray, 
Therefore will not say thee nay. 

Thou art coming to a King: 
Large petitions with thee bring; 
For His grace and power such, 
None can ever ask too much. 



THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever 
and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all 
that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the 
kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 
Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over 
all; and in thine hand is power and might. 1 Chron. 29: 
10-12. 

This was the prayer and song of David, the king, 
when the people brought gifts to the building of the 
temple, many thousand hundredweights of gold and sil- 
ver, and precious stones ; for they gave gladly and vol- 
untarily of an upright heart. Then the pious king 
rejoiced and praised God, the King of Israel. One may 
infer from this how full his heart was of the realization 
of the greatness and glory of God, the Messiah. He 
confesses that everything in all the heavens and in all 
the worlds belongs to God, who is the Highest, above 
all authority, all princes, and all that are mighty, above 
everything high and low, and by whose hand all things 
are guided and directed. Our Lord is King in the three 
kingdoms which contain all things that were, are, and 
ever shall be. He is the King of heaven and earth, the 
kingdom of nature ; King in the kingdom of grace, and 
King in the kingdom of eternal glory. Yes, Christ is the 
ruler of all things, as He Himself said, "All power is 
given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Mat. 28: 18). 
How their hearts rejoice who own Him as their Lord, 
their Head, their Shepherd, their Brother and Friend! 



300 

Whatever they look at or conceive of in heaven or on 
the earth — of it all they think and say, It belongs 
to my Lord and Brother. "The earth is the Lord's and 
the fulness thereof" (Ps. 24: 1) ; "heaven is my throne, 
and the earth is my foot-stool" (Is. 66: 1). How 
his heart swells in pride, the heart of him who is the 
sheep, the servant, the child of this Lord and King! 
What should that heart fear which knows that all things 
are in His hand who has loved us and given Himself 
for us ? Christ is ours ; then is not everything that be- 
longs to Him ours to salvation? Hence St. Paul says, 
"All things are yours." If only Jesus dwells in us and 
has established His kingdom of grace in our hearts, 
all His kingdoms, all things are ours. Therefore, see 
to it that Jesus dwells in your heart. 

Thine shall forever be 

Glory and power divine, 

The sceptre, throne, and majesty 

Of heaven and earth, are Thine. 



MONDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Shew thy marvelous loving ki-ndness, O thou that savest 
by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from 
those that rise up against them. Ps. 17: 7. The Lord kill- 
eth, and maketh alive: he brbigeth down to the grave, and 
bringeth up. 1 Sam. 2: 6. He woundeth, and his hands 
make whole. Job 5: 18; Hos. 6: 12. He is wonderful in 
counsel, and excellent in working. Is. 28: 29. 

Human reason can not submit to the providences of 
God, the ways in which He leads His saints and elect. 
For the most part God's leadings seem strange, incom- 
prehensible, unreasonable and altogether at variance with 
the object in view, yet ending in perfect blessedness, glory 
and triumph. Only look to Golgotha. God slays Him 
who is to make all alive. He allows Christ, by whom 
all should be saved and received into sonship, to be 
condemned, cursed and rejected. In order to gather the 
sheep, He allows the Shepherd to be torn asunder by 
the wolves. At Christ's death God permits darkness to 



301 

fall upon the whole earth in order that there might 
arise a Light for all men. In this way He leads all 
who are dear to Him. From the Original on Golgotha 
all copies are taken. Mark that and look diligently at 
the way in which God's Son, the Well-beloved of the 
Father, walks ; for this way you also must walk, within 
and without, if you allow the Lord to lead you, not 
leading yourself. Your heart will often feel bruised, 
wounded, forsaken, yea, dead : you will believe that you 
are completely lost and already in hell. But if your 
heart even then does not depart from the Lord ; if you 
still trust in Him and stretch your arms out toward 
Him, then He will inspire you with new life, enlighten 
and gladden you, and, as it were, transport you into 
heaven. He puts a new song in your mouth. Do not, 
however, become self-sufficient ; do not become secure. 
The sun will once more go down ; the sky will once more 
be clouded ; but it will clear off again. Do not be fright- 
ened because of this change. Thus God deals with 
us here on earth. Only cling to Christ in faith. 
Through everything, through light and darkness, through 
life and death, through heaven and hell, He leads you 
securely to the goal. 

Ye fearful saints, fresh, courage take: 
The clouds ye so much dread 
Are big with mercy, and shall break 
In blessings on your head. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me 
hath everlasting life. I am the living bread which came 
down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall 
live forever. John 6: 47. 51. I will open rivers in high 
places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. Is. 41: 18. 
The river of God is full of water. Ps. 65: 9. 

There is no doubt that the Lord's Supper is the 
means most rich in blessing to make us ever partakers 
of Him, and to sustain our intimate fellowship with 
Him, so that He abides in us, and we in Him (John 6: 



302 

56). But who doubts that outside of the Holy Supper, 
the soul may have Jesus just as near, and by faith and 
ardent love may be just as much a partaker of Him, 
since He is willing, at every moment gladly to impart 
Himself to every hungry and longing soul? Also out- 
side of the Sacrament He is at all times the Bread of 
Life which nourishes the eternal life of the soul and 
is indispensable in order that our spiritual life may be 
preserved, strengthened, and developed. A sound and 
healthy person must daily have something to eat; he 
cannot be without daily bread. He to whom Jesus is 
not just as indispensable as daily bread, as daily food 
and drink, does certainly- not live in Christ, as He Him- 
self has said (John 6: 56). Without the food of the 
Lord, there is no life of the Lord in us. Therefore, the 
holy, sacramental Supper does not make the spiritual, 
unbroken, daily Supper superfluous, but, on the con- 
trary, necessary and indispensable. He who has really 
tasted of Christ, hungers daily, thirsts for Him always. 
To hunger and thirst for Him, to long and yearn for 
Him, is the same as eating Him, sustaining and nour- 
ishing His life in us. He has instituted this spiritual 
communion, this daily Supper (John 6: 53 — 56). In this 
passage He at least does not exclusively speak of the Sac- 
rament. He has at any rate promised the daily commun- 
ion (Rev. 3: 20), "I will come in to him and will sup 
with him, and he with me." Consequently, Christ can 
always sup with us and we with Him. The way in 
which it is done, He Himself must teach us. Even 
David speaks of this (Ps. 23). The saints of all times, 
before and after the manifestation of Christ on earth, 
have been "eating" of Him and living by Him ; they 
have "feasted of fat things full of marrow" (Is. 25: 6), 
and have been refreshed by the "rivers" and "fountains" 
which He opened in high places, and in the midst of val- 
leys, yea, in all places where souls have thirsted for the 
water of life The river of God, which is full of water, 
was well known to them. Come, come, all ye that are 
athirst, come each day and draw water with joy from 
the wells of salvation! 



303 

Thou givest all I wanted, 
The Food that death destroys; 
And Thou hast freely granted 
The Cup of endless joys. 
Ah, Lord, I do not merit 
The favor Thou hast shown, 
And all my soul and spirit 
Bow down before Thy throne. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. James 1: 6. 
Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye 
ask him. Mat. 6: 8. I say not unto you, that I will pray the 
Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because 
ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from 
God. John 16: 26. 27. 

A cheerful and child-like confidence is the very soul 
' of prayer. Without such confidence, prayer is dead and 
barren, a punishment and a hardship. He who prays 
must, in the first place, know what he is doing. He 
goes to God who has called him, and commanded him to 
come and to pray to Him in time of all trouble and need, 
yea, concerning whatsoever that oppresses his heart 
(Phil. 4:6). Even herein lies a good ground for con- 
fidence. To this is added, secondly, the faith and convic- 
tion that God knows what I lack, what oppresses me, 
before I have told it to Him. That which oppresses the 
heart of the child, also touches the heart of the Father. 
Thirdly, the assurance given by the Son, "The Father 
Himself loveth you. My intercession is not even need- 
ed." Nevertheless, He prays for us abundantly in order 
that we should not entertain the least doubt. That is 
the reason for the above quoted admonition of St. James, 
that we are not to doubt. For he who doubts the 
word of promise of the true and faithful One. dis- 
honors and blasphemes God ; his prayer is rather a 
sin and blasphemy than a service and worship of 
God. God has said that I should pray and that He 
will give. Jesus has said that the Father will give 
us, that He knows our need, that He knows us. 



304 

"Faith abides by this and sends doubts to the devil, 
from whom they came." Yes, dear praying soul, 
lay hold of God and His faithfulness with both 
hands. Do not let go even though all devils would tear 
you away. "I will not let thee go, except Thou bless 
me" (Gen. 32: 26). Thus spoke even the Israelite. 
What, then, should not a Christian do who has God as 
his Brother in the flesh? One brother must not leave 
the other, nor must any one leave his own members. 
Christ vouches for that. 

Thy everlasting Truth, 

Father, Thy ceaseless love 

Sees all Thy children's wants, and knows 

What best for each will prove. 

And whatsoe'er Thou wilt, 

Thou dost, O King of kings! 

What Thy unerring Wisdom chose, 

Thy power to being brings. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made un- 
to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and re- 
demption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, 
let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1: 30. 31. Ye are my friends, 
if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15: 14. 

If you are in Christ Jesus, Christ is in you; He be- 
longs to you and you belong to Him. He who possesses 
Christ, let him hold that fast which he has, that no man 
take his crown (Rev. 3: 11). "Whosoever hath, to him 
shall be given, and he shall have more abundance" (Mat. 
13: 12). If Christ has been ''made unto us wisdom, and 
righteousness, and sanctifkation, and redemption" (1 
Cor. 1: 30), then all His wisdom and righteousness, all 
His power to sanctify and redeem, is vouchsafed to us. 
Thus He belongs to us with all that He is and has. 
He is ours. What a word full of good fortune and of 
joy: He is ours! Could we receive anything more? 
No; certainly not. Now everything depends on whether 
we know how to value and make use of this great gift 



305 

of the Father according to its great and infinite worth. 
If we do not prize it, it will be taken from us. 
Now everything depends on this, that we really allow 
ourselves to be made righteous, sanctified and redeemed. 
He is thereunto given to us and bestowed upon us. 
With that object in view, the hand of God gives Jesus 
to us. But then we must also receive Him from God's 
hand and allow Him to do that work in us whereunto 
He is sent. We must bring as a sacrifice to Him our 
foolishness, our sinfulness, our unrighteousness, and 
whatever that keeps us bound and captive, allowing the 
Son to make us free, to redeem us. Then we are free 
indeed. Then Christ has been made all this to us, not 
only in the mind of God, but He is all this to us in real- 
ity.' 

Hosannah! blessed Jesus, 

Come in our hearts to dwell, 

And let our lives and voices 

Thy praise and glory tell. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he 
that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 John 2: 17. 
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the 

flower of grass. But the word of the Lord endureth 

forever. 1 Pet. 1: 24. 25. 

The lust of the world tears many from Christ 
and His Word, because they do not believe that Christ 
can give greater pleasures to them that love Him than 
the world can offer them. They regard the union and 
fellowship with Jesus as the saddest thing in the world, 
an austerity in which there can not be one hour of real 
happiness. But how these blind people deceive them- 
selves ! They do not know that "the fulness of joy" is 
in His presence, and "pleasures" at His right hand for- 
evermore (Ps. 16: n). They have no conception of 
true joy and no taste for the pure pleasure of the heart 
or they could not regard the lust of the world as joy. 
The joys of the world are as evanescent and unsatisfacto- 



3o6 

ry as the joys of a dream which no longer exist when we 
awake; they are as soap-bubbles that vanish at a touch. 
That they who know not the joy in Christ do not seek 
it, is more pardonable than that you, who have tasted 
it, depart from it, carried away by the deceitful and 
passing lust of the world. Therefore, give the world a 
wide berth, beloved. Do not come near its pleasure- 
circles ; but suffer yourself rather to be spoken evil of 
and to be reproached, as St. Peter says the first Chris- 
tians were (i Pet. 4: 1 — 4). Let the will of God, that 
which is pleasing to Christ, be your delight and joy; this 
delight and joy cannot be taken from you. That which 
gives you no joy in death, which does not remain with 
you beyond the grave, — do not consider it worthy of 
being coveted; rather despise it. Let the joy in the 
Lord be your strength, for that lasts forever. 

Lead me to green pastures, lead me 
By the true and living way, 
Shield me from each strong temptation 
That might draw my heart astray; 
And if e'er m> feet should turn, 
For each error let me mourn. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they 
may dwell with me. Ps. 101: 6. Let us hold fast the pro- 
fession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that 
promised. Heb. 10: 23. 

The faithful God desires faithful hearts. God has 
no pleasure in him who errs. He who has received grace 
must preserve it and follow its course. Those who are 
unfaithful, who do not keep faith and troth, and through 
thoughtlessness or love of the world disregard and throw 
away the treasure and jewel of God's mercy which was 
bestowed upon them, will receive a punishment more 
terrible than they who had never known it. Let us in 
sacred fear of losing grace and becoming faithless, watch 
and pray the Lord, the faithful God, to preserve and to 
establish us in His grace. He who expects anything from 



307 

himself and believes himself to possess a steadfast faith- 
fulness unto the end, will surely become unfaithful. On 
the other hand, he who mistrusts his own vacillating 
heart, and clings ever closer to the Lord, daily asking 
Him for a faithful heart, will be preserved. Oh, seek 
often the eyes that look down from above for the faith- 
ful of the land ; seek them ! You will soon notice in 
those eyes whether they regard you as faithful. Only 
the faithful shall "dwell"" with Him. What, then, of the 
unfaithful? They shall have part in "the lake which 
burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 21 : 8). 

O God, Thou faithful God, 
Thou Fountain ever flowing, 
Without whom nothing is, 
All perfect gifts bestowing; 
A pure and healthy frame, 
O give me, and within 
A conscience free from blame, 
A soul unhurt by sin. 



THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, 
I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their 
God, and they shall be my people. 2 Cor. 6: 16; Lev. 26:, 12. 
What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto 
them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon 
him for? Deut. 4: 7. 

What a glorious congregation is that which is a liv- 
ing temple to the Lord ! A "living God" must have a 
living temple. Dead idols are in dead stone-houses. 
What condescension in God toward us ! How this love 
ought to humble us ! How ought we not, as the temple 
of God, to consecrate our body and spirit to the Lord. 
Dear soul, how can you ever forget who it is that dwells 
in you, whose house and temple you are? Your heart 
is consecrated to the Lord by the blood of Christ, with 
which you are bought ; do not destroy, desecrate, and 
dishonor that temple by unworthy thoughts and emo- 
tions. On the contrary, the thought that God "dwells", 
and "walks" in you, should awaken and maintain an 
untiring watchfulness in order that you may walk, think, 



3 o8 

speak and act worthily of that God who is so condescend- 
ing to you, who remains so near to you, and exalts and 
honors you so highly in having chosen your heart as His 
dwelling-place and throne. All this is difficult for us to 
believe. It is too great, too much, too gracious ; but 
Christ Himself has said it (John 14: 23). And as the 
Lord even in the old covenant has solemnly- declared 
and promised it, and as every pious soul who enters into 
his own heart and with faith and humility seeks the 
Lord there, finds Him and enjoys communion with Him, 
we cannot doubt it. We have what we believe and what 
the faithful One has promised. Only let us be His peo- 
ple, faithfully devoted to Him, clinging to Him with 
true hearts, and He will never cease to be our God, our 
Immanuel. 

Let me never from Thee stray, 
Keep me in the narrow way; 
Fill my soul with joy divine, 
Keep me, Lord, forever Thine! 



MONDAY AFTER THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. Ps. 18: 1. He 
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. He that 
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 
4: 8. 16. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Mat. 
22: 37. 

You desire to be loved by your brother, your chil- 
dren and friends, not in words \ only, but in deed and 
from the heart. Should God be satisfied with a love of 
the lips, which is no love at all, but only a tinkling cym- 
bal? No: he who knows the kind mercies of God, the 
love and grace of Christ, who sacrificed Himself for us 
with body and soul and all His powers, does not hesi- 
tate to surrender himself so completely with all his heart, 
with all his soul, and with all his powers, to the love of 
God and of Jesus Christ, that he retains nothing for 
himself. He belongs completely to his God and Savior, 
lives and dies for Him, forgets himself, and becomes 



309 

filled with God, filled with his Savior, and breathes, 
walks and stands, watches and sleeps, works and rests, 
only for Him. Nor is it the reward, the sweetness and 
delight, which love even here carries with it, nor fear nor 
hope, nor punishment nor reward, nor loss nor gain, 
that impels and animates love. It is only love, pure love, 
that causes love to love. It is the inner beauty, glory, 
goodness, matchlessness and loveliness of God and of 
Jesus Christ, that awakens the soul to love, sustains it 
and evermore increases love. The more it learns to know 
Him, the more it learns to love Him. Its eyes are ever 
turned toward Him ; it is ever in God and God is in it ; 
it ever dwells in Christ, and Christ ever dwells in it. 
They ever regard each other, and are thereby kindled to 
greater mutual love. Love increases in proportion as 
the knowledge of the beloved increases. Therefore St. 
John says so truly, "He that loveth not knoweth not 
God ; for God is love." He who knows Him must love 
Him. A look to God, to Christ, charms the soul to love. 
The soul can no longer do otherwise, — it must love Him ; 
He is too beautiful, too delightful ; the heart knows not 
how to avoid loving Him. 

Teach me all Thy steps to trace, 
Strong to follow in Thy grace; 
Learning how to love from Thee, 
Loving Him who first loved me. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be 

saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. And 

I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, 
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10: 
9. 28. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, 

and she returned unto him into the ark — then he put 

forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into 
the ark. Gen. 8: 9. 

He who, as a sheep of Christ, hears His voice, follows 
Him as his Shepherd and does not hear the voice of the 
stranger (flesh and blood, the world and Satan) ; he does 
not fear death, since his Shepherd has not only opened 



3io 

the door to him but even here has bestowed upon him 
the beginning of eternal life and has assured him that 
beyond He will forever preserve him and never let him 
perish or be plucked out of his hand. Behold, you are 
in His hand now. He will forever carry you in His 
hand. He Himself will nourish and refresh you. He 
who does not have faith in this hand must be much 
given to mistrust. What, then, do you fear? That His 
hand will let go of you and give you up a prey to Satan 
and hell? The hand which is pierced for your sake, 
which for your sake was in hell and in the jaws of 
death? No, dear soul. If you do not wrench yourself out 
of His hand ; if you yourself do not run away, that hand 
will never let go of you. Should not He love you, His 
own dearly-bought sheep, more than Noah loved his 
dove? Yes, most assuredly, if you, as that dove, no 
longer find a place on the earth where you may rest 
your foot, and you fly to the ark of heaven. Only be- 
lieve fully and steadfastly; then your good Shepherd 
will reach His hand out to you and take you in to Him- 
self, — the hand in which you are even now and in which 
you shall ever rest ; that hand will never withdraw itself 
from you. Only reach out your own hand to- Him ; com- 
mit yourself each day confidently into His hands ; then 
you shall never suffer want. 

The Lord my Shepherd is; 

I shall be well supplied: 

Since He is mine, 

And I am His. 

What can I want beside? 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. Ps. 25: 
10. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up 

for them that fear thee ; blessed be the Lord; for he 

hath showed me his marvelous kindness. Ps. 31: 19. 21. He 
that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. 
Ps. 32: 10. 

He who experiences the "mercy" of the Lord, can 
not sufficiently praise it, even as David in all his psalms. 



3ii 

Though it often seemed to David that God's mercy 
had come to an end, so that he cried, "Is His mercy clean 
gone forever? Hath God forgotten to be gracious?" 
(Ps. JJ\ 8. 9) he yet remembered the works of the 
Lord, His former wonders upon him and his people ; 
then he could no longer keep from praising the mercy of 
the Lord and rejoicing in it. The Lord remains forever 
the same, always the exceedingly merciful One, even 
when He seems to us otherwise. Do not forget that, 
beloved. For even though you 'had experienced His 
mercy in all its greatness, He will still permit you to 
get into such outward and inward circumstances that it 
will be hard for you to believe that He is still merciful ; 
you will at least be strongly, tempted to doubt whether 
He is still merciful to you. Do as David did : remember 
the former wonders of His mercy which He has shown 
to your heart or to other persons. But if you love Him 
uprightly and intensely, faithfully and constantly, God 
will often seem to you so merciful that it is hard for 
you to believe that He really is so merciful ; you fear 
that God's mercy may prove a disappointment or a de- 
lusion, as you are unable to comprehend why He is so 
merciful and kind to you. The more you humble your- 
self before Him and regard yourself unworthy of His 
mercy, the more will He overwhelm you with grace and 
mercy. Therefore, be humble when He is kind and 
gracious to you. Be undismayed and confident when He 
seems ungracious and unkind. 

O bless the Lord, my soul! 
Nor let His mercies lie 
Forgotten in unthankfulness, 
And without praises die. 

His wondrous works and ways 

He made by Moses known; 

But sent the world His truth and grace 

By His beloved Son. 



312 

THURSDAY AFTER THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Hope maketh not ashamed. For when we were 

yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the un- 
godly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet 
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 
Rom. 5: 5-7. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the 
just for the unjust. 1 Pet. 3: 18. 

Let the Crucified One often appear before your eyes. 
Let this picture of the greatest love of God be repro- 
duced in such living color that no* human hand, no power 
of hell, no time, no death, can obliterate it. Turn your 
steps again and again to Golgotha. Consider to-day as 
yesterday and the day before, consider to-day and to- 
morrow and each day the Righteous One, whose love 
to the unjust slew Him, the Holy One, whose compas- 
sion for sinners pierced and mortally wounded Him. 
Do not let Him in this His most beautiful form escape 
your eye. Let your eye constantly rest on Him. Keep 
Him forever in your heart, so that you can no more dis- 
engage yourself from Him, even though you would. 
This place beneath the cross no true Christian ever 
leaves. Here true Christians all meet together and 
remain, as it were, cast together with Him and firmly 
riveted to Him. Love fastens and binds more strongly 
than iron bolts. Alas ! he to whom it is so easy to forget 
Jesus as He hangs upon the cross, should weep for his 
cold heart, and regard himself as most miserable, and 
hasten, hasten to the cross, until he gets it planted in his 
heart as a living plant, which grows and lives, never 
withering or dying. 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, 
By the cross are sanctified; 
Peace is there that knows no measure, 
Joys that through all time abide. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I or I determined not to know anything among you, save 
Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2: 2. Brethren, be 
followers together of me, and mark them which walk so 



313 

as ye have us for an example- (For many walK, of whom I 
have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that 
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ). Phil. 3: 17. 18. 

He who knows the Crucified One in such measure 
that he forgets all other knowledge and erudition, and 
desires to know and to be informed of nothing more 
than of Him, knows Jesus in the same way as Paul knew 
Him. He has found the heavenly key to all knowledge 
concerning God, to all the mysteries of the Godhead. 
For the love of God which gave itself for us upon the 
cross, opens everything which otherwise would have re- 
mained hidden from us forever. This knowledge of the 
Crucified One is, however, not a common, ordinary 
knowledge ; not such knowledge as one gleans from a 
newspaper article, when a matter is presented in a cre- 
dible way. This knowledge is a living knowledge that 
permeates spirit, soul and body; a knowledge that lays 
hold of and sanctifies the whole man. For Paul says, 
even weeping, concerning some of the Philippians, who 
certainly also knew Jesus, the Crucified One ; who glo- 
ried in this knowledge and trusted in it, "They walk as 
the enemies of the cross of Christ ; their end is destruc- 
tion." Why? Because notwithstanding all that they 
knew of the Crucified One, they yet had their "belly" 
as their god, and gloried in their "shame." Therefore 
the knowledge of and the faith in the Crucified One 
must have such an effect upon your heart that He, the 
Crucified One, becomes your God and Lord; that you 
worship Him and not your belly ; that you no longer 
serve the world, sin, or the flesh, but the living God. 
Love begets love. If you know that Christ has sacri- 
fied Himself for you, you ought also to sacrifice your- 
self for Him. If He loved you unto the death on the 
cross, and if you know and believe in this love, how can 
your heart be without sacrificing love to Him ? Can you 
now truthfullv say, I know nothing save Jesus, the Cruci- 
fied One? Woe to you if your tongue only says this 
while your mind and conduct show you to be an enemy 
of the cross of Christ. 



314 

Truly blessed is this station, 
Low before His cross to lie, 
While I see Divine compassion 
Beaming in His gracious eye. 

Here it is I find my heaven, 
While upon the Lamb I gaze; 
Love I much? I'm much forgiven, 
I'm a miracle of grace. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FOURTENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, 

rejoicing. Likewise there is joy in the presence of 

the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15: 
5. 10. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the 
friend of the bridegroom, which stajndeth and heareth him, 
rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my 
joy therefore is fulfilled. John 3: 29. 

St. John saw the sheep come to the Shepherd, the bride 
to the Bridegroom. Could he then, as the faithful friend 
of the Bridegroom, do otherwise than rejoice? Disciples 
gathered around Jesus. His forerunner and herald to 
the wedding feast rejoiced therein. When they who 
were invited, even the maimed, the halt and the blind, 
hasten from the highways and hedges to the feast; 
when they come so that the house of the Lord is filled, 
the true servants rejoice, and they are only sorry for 
those who remain behind and excuse themselves with 
their oxen, their wives and their fields.. Ought not a 
teacher to rejoice when his hearers ask for Jesus and 
endeavor to find Him? The angels rejoice therein. 
What does it concern them ? They love Christ and there- 
fore they cannot be cold and indifferent when He gets 
His reward, the reward for all the griefs by which He 
has sought His lost possession. You ask, What does it 
concern them? You yourself do not rejoice. Oh, 
let it concern you and be a matter of importance to you, 
that the Shepherd finds His sheep. Let your voice sound 
to all the ends and corners of the world, that the bride 
may hear the voice of the Bridegroom and hasten to 
Him ! All the world, all human souls, are His bride. 



3i5 

Many are still a runaway, vagrant and unfaithful bride ! 
Nevertheless Jesus wants them all. We are to call them 
to Him. Oh, do not fall asleep before the Bridegroom 
has recovered possession of all that is His, that Satan 
may not retain as his prey that which belongs to your 
Bridegroom. 

Shall we, whose souls are lighted 
With wisdom from on high — 
Shall we, to men benighted 
The lamp of life deny? 
Salvation, oh, salvation! 
The joyful sound proclaim, 
Till earth's remotest nation 
Has ler.rned Messiah's name. 



THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Trust In the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto 
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, 
and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 3: 5. 6. 

Must not the Lord, our Savior, complain of many 
Christians as David complained of his neighbors, "I am 
forgotten as a dead man out of mind" (Ps. 31: 12)? 
Yea, many remember Him as little as they remember 
one who died nineteen hundred years ago, or as one 
whom they have never known. They say, "In death 
there is no remembrance of Thee" (Ps. 6: 6). When 
there is no life of God in the heart, but only death, the 
heart does not think of its Savior, and cannot think of 
Him. But where the Lord dwells in the heart, there 
dwells also the remembrance of Him ; there we do not 
only think of Him — we dwell in Him ; there the 
heart is full of joy in Him ; there it beholds His 
kind countenance ; there it perceives His presence, is 
fascinated thereby, forgets everything else and says 
to Him, "I held Him and would not let Him go" (Cant. 
3:4). If the morning star be risen in our hearts, it 
ever beams into the eye in such a way that we can no 
more forget it. It shines night and day and never sets, 
if we do not turn our eyes away from it or throw sand 
into our own eyes ; if we keep ourselves unpolluted by 
things that dim our vision of the star and cloud the hori- 



3i6 

zon of the soul. He whose earnest desire is to be pure in 
heart and blessed in the Lord, knows also that he cannot 
be without Him a moment. He dares not take a step 
without Christ, because he is himself just as little able to 
go straight and follow the right path as a new-born 
child. Who is able to suffer without Christ? The more 
afflictions crowd upon us, the more closely we are to em- 
brace Him. Every cross crushes us and makes us unhap- 
py if He is not in us to strengthen the weak, to raise the 
fallen, to heal the bruised and comfort the sorrowful. 
O dear soul, hold Him fast and let not go of Him ; for 
without Jesus all your happiness is gone. 

Come, holy Sun of heavenly love, 
Send down Thy radiance from above; 
And to our inmost hearts convey 
The Holy Spirit's cloudless ray. 



MONDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that 

seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. The 

Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and 
saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Ps. 34: 10. 18. 

Those who are spiritually rich, full of proud imagin- 
ings concerning themselves, are very needy and poor. 
They suffer want in the spirit of their mind ; they are 
without any living knowledge of the Lord, without His 
love, even though they may be able to speak much about 
it. They, however, who feel themselves poor, wretched 
and in want, who consequently seek nothing in them- 
selves, but all in the Lord, w T ho only seek the Lord, who 
collect their mind and wait for Him and for His gifts, 
are ever filled, comforted, enlightened and made happy. 
They cannot suffer want, because they have Jesus. How 
does one have Him ? How does one get Him ? A broken 
heart and a contrite spirit have Him constantly, as often as 
they desire. A proud spirit, a puffed-up mind, a satisfied, 
distracted and thoughtless heart, drives Him farther and 
farther away, or withdraws from Him. Do you wish to 
find Jesus? Would you like to have Him ever near you? 



317 

Well, then go in the way in which He meets the hearts. 
Prepare for Him that inn into which He readily enters 
and remains "a contrite spirit," a "broken heart." But 
how can I ever be thus contrite and broken? He whose 
heart is not broken as often as he draws near to God 
has yet never seen the true appearance of his heart in 
the mirror of truth. It is an easy matter to cause the 
heart to be "broken" and the spirit to be "contrite." 
You need only see your true spiritual condition in the 
light of God's word, and the heart becomes "broken." 
This attracts Christ more than all preparations, services, 
and spiritual exercises. How? All the world knows 
or may know, where and how Christ is to be found. 
Yet they are few who possess Him, yea, even few so- 
called awakened and pious hearts. If we were forced 
to seek Him far away we would at least have some 
excuse ; but we may have Him in our hearts — O how 
close ! — even in a "broken" heart, not in a richly gifted, 
but in a "contrite" spirit. And yet! and yet! how far art 
Thou, Lord Jesus, from the hearts ! 

In scenes exalted or deprest, 
Be Thou our joy, and Thou our rest; 
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise, 
Adored through all our changing days. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a 
little while, and ye shall see me. — — — As soon as the 
woman is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more 
the anguish. John 16: 16. 21. For a small moment have I 
forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 
Is. 54: 7. 

As the Savior led His disciples, so He leads all His 
dear ones who cling to Him with their whole heart and 
suffer themselves unconditionally to be led by Him. 
They who lead themselves walk their own ways and 
know not the way of the Lord, the way of peace. The 
disciples were always happy and as if in heaven, when 
they saw Jesus and had Him in their midst. When they 



3i8 

lost sight of Him, their hearts were rilled with sorrow. 
Their joy was all the more heightened when they saw 
Him again after they had regarded Him as dead and 
lost. Thus Jesus still leads pious and earnest souls. He 
reveals Himself to them in great mercy ; then they feel 
as if they were in heaven. He withdraws again from 
their eyes, and they feel as if they were in hell ; they are 
in a state of deepest despair. He comes again, and their 
heaven becomes still more beautiful and glorious ; more 
beautiful and glorious the O'ftener He imparts Himself to 
their heart, reveals His presence and mercy. On the 
other hand, their hell, their sorrow, their grief, be- 
comes ever greater and more painful the oftener He 
hides Himself. They are unable to believe that they 
shall find Him and see Him again. Why do they 
not believe? Has He not said, "A little while, and ye 
shall see me and rejoice"? The poor soul believes 
and hopes this, but not in such a living and cheerful way 
that it does not feel grieved at His seeming absence. 
This grief it must feel, like the throes at the birth of 
higher joys which are prepared for it. Throes and grief 
must go before and accompany every birth. Then, 
should not the soul in which Christ, the best, the only 
true life, is to be born, feel the throes at this most joy- 
ful and blessed birth? The Crucified One can not be 
planted in your heart without the cross. The Man of 
sorrows can not become yours without sorrow. 

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 
Though seen through many a tear, 
Let not my star of hope 
Grow dim or disappear: 
Since Thou on earth hast wept 
And sorrowed oft alone, 
If I must weep with Thee, 
My Lord, Thy will be done! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain 
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5: 9. But we 
are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, Lrethren 



3i9 

beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning 
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit 
and belief of the truth. 2 Thes. 2: 13. 

Salvation, salvation ! God has intended "salvation", 
for us from the beginning. Who is able sufficiently to 
thank Him therefor? Wherein does this "salvation" 
consist? Not in a mere imagination. Our Savior ex- 
plains to us (Mat. 5: 3 — 11) wherein true salvation 
consists. With this genuine and infallible touch-stone 
we are to prove our salvation. It is singular that 
the Savior attributes the salvation of God's children on 
earth to something entirely different from the highly 
praised happiness of the world. Poverty, hunger, sor- 
row, persecution, a clean heart, are things that make the 
whole world unhappy ; but it is exactly these things that 
make the children of God blessed. One who is rich can 
not become blessed in the kingdom of God except he 
become poor in spirit, except he disengage his heart from 
all temporal and intellectual riches and as one poor and 
needy turns to Jesus to become a partaker of the un- 
searchable riches of His grace. One who is satiated and 
happy in riotous living, can not become blessed in God 
except he deny all his licentiousness, and hunger and 
thirst after that righteousness which God through Jesus 
Christ holds out to him in faith. A frivolous, thought- 
less sinner can not be saved unless he mourn his riotous 
life and seek joy and peace in Christ. A licentious per- 
son, whose mind is filled with all kinds of lust can not 
be saved except he banish all impure desires, which he 
seeks to gratify, lust, revenge or other sensual indulg- 
ences, and seek his sole pleasure in Christ and in com- 
munion with Him. Unto this "salvation" we are called. 
This "salvation" belongs only to spiritual poverty, to 
hunger after righteousness, to a heart that has died from 
sin. It is only to be found by clinging to the Lord in 
£aith. He is the author of our salvation. He became 
poor, that we might become rich through His poverty. 
He hungered and thirsted that we might become filled. 
Instead of the heavenly joy at his disposal, He suffered 
the cross, that we through His grief might obtain sal- 
vation. 



320 

Come, ye that love the Lord, 

And let your joys be known; 

Join in the song with sweet accord, 

While ye surround His throne. 

Let tnose refuse to sing 

Who never knew our God; 

But servants of the heavenly King 

May speak their joys abroad. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Yea, he loved the people. Deut. 33: 3. Who is a God 
like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the 

transgression? Thou wilt cast all their sins into the 

depths of the sea. Mic. 7: 18. 19. Yet it pleased the Lord 

to bruise him; he hath put him to grief. By his 

knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he 
shall bear their iniquities. Is. 53: 10. 11. 

The most incomprehensible and adorable wonder of all 
wonders is the love of God in Christ, to which we should 
ever come back, at which we each day should stop, and 
which should each day become new to us. Even Moses 
exclaimed, "The Lord loveth His people, who have by no 
means deserved it." He knew the stiff-necked people and 
saw how highly God loved them. But if Moses had also 
seen the Son of God hanging on the cross, wounded and 
bloody, bruised, tortured, yea, as it were, crushed by God 
Himself, — what would he have thought and felt? It 
jars on the refined and sensitive ears of our contempo- 
raries when Scripture says that the Lord has stricken 
and tortured His Son. But I can not help them. To me 
it seems delightful, however unfathomable, that God 
bruised the Righteous One for those who were unright- 
eous, and not only afflicted Him, but that He should 
justify many, that He might see of the travail of His soul, 
that He might be satisfied, that He might be given a por- 
tion among the great, that we might all become His. 
God brought such a great sacrifice that He treated Him 
who was most pleasing to Him, in wrath, in order to win 
those who hated Him and who had deserved His wrath, 
and to deliver them from judgment and wrath. Let us 
not try to fathom this wonder of love ; for we are unable 



321 

to do it ; but let us enjoy it, which we may by the grace 
of God. 

Mark the sacrifice appointed! 
See who bears the awful load; 
Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed, 
Son of Man and Son of God. 

Here we have a firm foundation; 
Here the refuge of the lost; 
Christ's the Rock of our salvation: 
His the name of which we boast. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the 
Almighty giveth them understanding. Job 32: 8. Grieve not 
the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day 
of redemption. Eph. 4: 30. But ye are not in the flesh, 
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. 
Rom. 8: 9. 

No person is more spiritless than he who is proud. 
To those only who are humble does God give His grace 
and Spirit. He resists the proud, for they have the spirit 
of Satan. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, then, means, 
Become really humble, bow down before God in your 
•hearts. Then will He also stoop to you and fill you with 
His Spirit. This is the mystery of all mysteries. It is 
known by the simple but hidden from the proud. These 
are without Spirit, consequently without true enlighten- 
ment. They never learn, even though they are always at 
it, the things that belong to their peace. He "who pos- 
sesses the Holy Spirit must take care to retain the Spirit 
in the same way as he received Him. The higher God 
by this great gift has exalted him above others, the 
lower ought he to bow down to others. Nothing grieves 
the Spirit so much and nothing drives Him away so 
easily as self-importance and self-exaltation, the refusal 
to heed His voice and to follow His guidance. One 
easily sinks from th Spirit down to the flesh again if 
one does not with faithfulness and humility walk in 
the Spirit. Ye children of God, who are led by the 
Spirit, because ye have Him abiding in you, O preserve 



322 

this incomparable blessing ! The world can cause you no 
greater harm than when you permit the Spirit to be 
'quenched" in you. Pray incessantly for the Holy 
Spirit ! Remain in fellowship with Him, and allow your- 
selves as children to be led, reprimanded, enlightened, 
comforted and preserved by Him. 

Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
With all Thy quck'ning powers; 
Come, shed abroad a Savior's love, 
And that shall kindle ours. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is 
my right hand, I shall not be moved. Ps. 16: 8. He that 
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind 

and tossed. A double minded man is unstable in all 

his ways. James 1: 6. 8. Do all things without murmurings 
and disputings. Phil. 2: 14. 

Doubt is poison, plague and death to faith. Doubt 
and vacillation come from an unstable, fickle mind that 
readily doubts, not because it is tempted, but because it 
does not love the truth, and affects the doubts. When 
doubts are only temptations and come often, they are 
not to be regarded otherwise than mosquitoes to be 
brushed away. When, on the other hand, the heart itself 
seeks and voluntarily nourishes doubts, there is an end 
of faith. Such a person needs a thorough conversion 
and change of mind. He must begin from the begin- 
ning again and pray for a new heart. If the doubts are 
temptations from Satan to take away your courage by 
a hundred scruples, pointing to the future and only show- 
ing the despondent heart its weakness and the dangers, 
but not the power and grace of God, then nothing more 
is needed than that you' turn your eye away from the 
liar and to the word of God, which inspires you 
with courage and comfort, promises strength to the weak 
and increases the power of those who have no strength. 
Confidence in Him, whose strength is made perfect in 
weakness, is the shield by which we may overcome all 
temptations to despondency. A look at the Crucified 



3*3 

One, who has suffered for us, drawn us to Himself, 
who has so far shown us so much grace ; a look in faith 
at the faithful Shepherd, who carries His sheep, who 
strengthens the sick and binds up the broken-hearted, 
makes one courageous and fearless, and all doubts must 
vanish. He who began the good work of redemption 
and sanctification in you, will also finish it. He has seen 
beforehand who you are, and how weak you are, and 
has nevertheless begun. It is not your weakness that 
hinders Him from saving you ; only your own will and 
your unbelief can Kinder Him from doing it, inasmuch 
as you do not earnestly desire to be saved ; you do not 
absolutely trust in Him; you do not surrender to Him 
unconditionally; you are not willing to belong to Him 
without reservation. 

The hosts of God. encamped around 
The dwellings of the just; 
Deliverance He affords to all 
Who in His succor trust. 



THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

For he is .not a God of the dead, but of the living: for 
all live unto him. Luke 20: 38. Blessed are the dead which 
die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that 
they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow 
Lhem Rev. 14: 13. 

Thus speak the Scriptures to us in regard to those 
who are dead. What better consolation could they give 
us? We do not, perhaps, in reality weep for the dead 
who live in the Lord, but for ourselves who are left in 
this life of death. For it would be foolish for you who 
still must bear the burden and the heat of the day to 
weep for him who has finished his day's work and who 
rests from his labors and is at home with the Lord, where 
no heat shall fall upon him, where no sun shall strike 
him, where every tear has been wiped away for ever. 
It is not right to call them "dead." They live; but we 
are still in this body of death. They live unto their God, 
and their God now lives wholly in them. For He is a 
God of the living who can and will preserve living for- 
ever those whom He takes to Himself. The thought 



3 2 4 

of the departed ones who live with the Lord, ought 
consequently not kill you nor strike you to the ground; 
it ought to revive you and to raise you up. It ought not 
to bow you down into the grave to the decaying tab- 
ernacle of the departed one, but it ought to lift you above 
the grave and decay, to the land of immortality, to the 
bosom of the. Savior, to the "mansions" of the Father, 
where they rest, liye and are glorious, whence they beck- 
on us and invite us to come where they are, encouraging 
us to remain faithful to the end, that we may join them 
and enjoy a like glory with them. 

It is not death to close 
The eye long dimmed with tears, 
And wake in glorious repose 
To spend eternal years. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of 
yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man 
should boast. Eph. 2: 8. 9. 

Nothing is easier than to be saved. Yet salvation 
is something which the fewest persons succeed in ob- 
taining. When a person who sits in prison because of 
debt asks, How am I to pay my debt and be set at 
liberty? and one says to him, The person to whom you 
owe the money, is a very kind person; make your want 
known to him ; give him good words ; ask him to for- 
give you all your debt, and he will do so ; he will set 
you at liberty and give you great wealth besides ; then 
the prisoner readily believes it. He will not only willingly 
do what he has to do, but he will also say, Nothing else ? 
That is nothing. That is easy for me to do. When he 
has done so and has become free and rich, he will not 
think in such an insane manner as this, I have obtained 
my liberty by my own merit ; but he will all the days 
of his life confess, Oh, that kind person has from pure 
grace and for nothing forgiven me all that I owed him 
and besides overwhelmed me with gifts. How am I 
sufficiently to thank him? Thus men think and act in 



325 

regard to temporal things ; but in regard to spiritual 
things, to their debt of sin, and to Christ, they know 
not what to do. That which is the easiest in the world 
becomes the most difficult, and if they have done it, 
they regard it as the greatest work and merit, as if they 
themselves had earned their salvation. Now Paul does 
not say in the above words that one has nothing to do 
in order to be saved, but only that one, after being saved, 
must not ascribe salvation to one's own works and one's 
own activity. He must not glory in it as something he 
has earned by his own works. You must certainly do 
all that you can by the aid of preparatory grace : weep, 
pray, wait, struggle, in short, you must do all that which 
the blessed Spirit, who leads you to repentance and 
faith, teaches you to do. But when you have done all, 
you must regard it as so small a matter and you must 
praise yourself so little for it as if you had done nothing 
whatever, and regard salvation as bestowed upon you, 
not because of your works, but for nothing and of grace ; 
for that which you have done is His work in you. In 
this way all is His and nothing is left for you but — 
grace. 

Thy grace first made me feel my sin, 
It taught me to believe; 
Then, in believing, peace I found, 
And now I live, I live. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them 
that kill the body. Luke 12: 4. For which cause he is not 
ashamed to call them brethren. Heb. 2: 11. For we are 
members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph. 

5: 30. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee 

fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by 
thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the 
waters, I will be with thee — — — when thou walkest 
through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. Is. 43: 1. 2. 

What can be likened to love ? Christ calls us "friends," 
"brethren." He says to every one. Thou art mine. He 
will be "with us" in fire and in water. We are "mem- 
bers of His bodv, of His flesh, and of His bones." Dear 



326 

soul, repeat this seven times, and seventy times seven 
times, to yourself and rejoice each time more intensely 
and more heartily therein ; draw therefrom all that -you 
are able to draw. What brother will not exert himself 
for his brethren? What person does not above every- 
thing else look to his own members, his own flesh and 
bones? What should we fear when we have such an 
exalted Friend and Brother, such a Head? Where is 
your confidence, your faith, your love for this great yet 
condescending Brother? But do you really stand in a 
close, brotherly, friendly and cordial relationship to 
Him? Is He really that to you which He may be? 
Do you permit Him to be a brother to you? On His 
side, nothing is lacking. If you have not experienced 
that He is your brother, O take pity on yourself and 
do not miss this unspeakable, great happiness. Do not 
neglect this invaluable, matchless grace, to have God 
on high as your friend and brother, to enjoy His broth- 
erly love and His friendliness. Let Him be dearer to 
you than all your dear ones, the first, greatest and best 
friend among all your other friends. He wants to give 
Himself to you. Oh, then, receive Him ! 

Love divine, all love excelling, 
Joy of heaven, to earth come down! 
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, 
All Thy faithful mercies crown. 
Jesus, Thou art all compassion. 
Pure, unbounded love Thou art, 
Visit us with Thy salvation, 
Enter every trembling heart! 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

The parents brought the child Jesus into the temple — 

and they went every year up to Jerusalem. Luke 2: 

27 41 And they brought young children to him, that he 

should touch them. —He said, Surfer the little children 

to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the 
kingdom of God. Mark 10: 13. 14. 

The beautiful example of the parents of Jesus, bring- 
ing Jesus as a child into the temple, taking the boy 
with them to Jerusalem at the time of the festivals ; the 



3^7 

example of the pious mothers, who brought their chil- 
dren to Jesus, that He might "put His hands upon them 
and bless them," is a real hand-book and house-book for 
parents in regard to the training of their children. From 
that they will be able to learn all that they are to do in 
order to make their children good and pleasing to God. 
Bring them to Jesus. Bring them into the temple of 
truth and love. Sacrifice them to God. Lift them with 
prayer and supplication up to the heart of the Savior. 
He will press them to His heart. Pious parents caused 
Him no greater joy than when they brought their chil- 
dren to Him that He might bless them. As it was then, 
so it is even now. He is the same. That we do not 
see Him, makes no difference. The children's Friend 
lives and blesses unseen as well as when He was seen. 
His joy is still just as great when you, dear mother, and 
you, dear father, bring your child to Him in prayer, 
lay it up to His heart and say, Now He is blessing 
our child ; now He puts His pierced hands upon it ; now 
He presses it to His loving bosom ; now blessing and 
peace, spirit and life from His fulness, flow into our 
little child's soul. Behold, thus it is done to you accord- 
ing to your faith. Your children are and remain blessed 
if you do not lack in admonitions, in guidance, and in 
teaching that which is good. The Savior has appointed 
the children to the kingdom of heaven and promised it 
to them, saying, "Of such is the kingdom of God." 
Parents ought to think of this, namely, that they have 
in "their children citizens of the kingdom of God, 
over which they are to watch as the angels of God 
that they may not rob them of heaven and deliver them 
up to hell. The disciples unkindly turned the mothers 
with their children away and would not let them come 
to Jesus — a picture of the present age, which will not 
allow the children to come to God, to Christ. One 
says, They do not understand; it is too early. No, says 
Jesus, they are to "come unto me; forbid them not." 
Between them and me there is above all a close fellow- 
ship ; I am come from heaven, and the kingdom of heav- 
en belongs to them ; they are my dearest heavenly 



328 

citizens. Blessed are the parents who understand this 
and who act accordingly. 

•'Permit them to approach," He cries, 
"Nor scorn their humble name: 
It was to bless such souls as these 
The Lord of angels came." 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward 
in heaven. Mat. 5: 12. 

Thus the Savior comforts us in His word in regard 
to the afflictions and persecutions of this present time. 
Verily, if there were no other reward, it would be a 
great reward even to see Him as He is and be His 
forever. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be 
joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth 
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are 
exercised thereby" (Heb. 12: 11). We shall then see 
what we had not always here the courage to believe, 
namely, that '"the sufferings of this present time are not 
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be 
revealed in us when we shall see Him face to face." 
Even a look at Him as He is must change our whole 
nature and impart to us a heavenly and eternal transfig- 
uration. How happy we shall be when we possess 
Him and behold Him forever ! O ye men, why do ye 
look so inquisitively around on this earth where you* are 
unable to find the One who alone can gladden your 
souls forever? Why do you not look in faith up to 
Him, whose look is able to make you everlastingly sat- 
isfied and happy? What great cause have not we who 
are called unto the heavenly inheritance to rejoice, think- 
ing of our departure when we shall take possession of 
this inheritance? What great cause have not we for 
exultation ! For the reward is indescribably great, great- 
er than heaven itself. We rejoice intensely when we 
meet friends whom we have missed a long time or when 
we meet a man whose acquaintance we have long desired 
to make. How we shall rejoice when with our eyes we 



3^9 

shall see Him before whom the angels fall upon their 
faces ! What shall we find with Him and in Him ? 
We shall meet all those who deserve to be known and 
to be loved and in whose company and intercourse the 
cherubs rejoice. How far away all enemies, temptations 
and sorrows will be ! "In His presence is fulness of jov ; 
at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 
16: ii). 

There we shall see His face, 

And never, never sin; 

There from the rivers of His grace, 

Drink endless pleasures in. 

The men of grace have found 

Glory begun below : 

Celestial fruit on earthly ground 

From faith and hope may grow. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God 
took him. Gen. 5: 24. Noah was a just man and perfect 
in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Gen. 6: 9. 
Moses endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Heb. 11: 27. 

"To walk with God" means to lead a godly life, to 
walk in the presence of God, in His power and grace, to 
be in fellowship with Him, to partake of His influ- 
ence, His nearness, His peace, and to let our heart live 
therein. Thus lived these progenitors. They were tem- 
ples of the living God. The Lord was all to their hearts. 
The love of God was poured out into their hearts by 
the Holy Ghost. God was in them and they were in 
God. They were so closely united with Him by the 
bond of love that nothing on earth could separate them 
from Him. This is the living faith that holds fast to God, 
the invisible, as if it saw Him bodily, as if He stood 
before us. That Christ who was to come was just as 
near to them in faith as if He had been visibly present. 
Shall not Christ, who has been on earth visibly, and 
who remains here invisibly alway even unto the end, be 
as near to us in faith as if He were visibly present to 



33Q 

us? Yes, certainly; and not that alone, but the spirit- 
ual presence of the Lord should be infinitely more real to 
us than His bodily presence. In our heart He is much 
closer than if He stood before us physically. He who 
is not more blessed by faith in Him who is invisible than 
he would be if he could see the visible Christ, has not 
such a faith as the Lord would have (John 20: 29). 

O Jesus, ever with us stay! 
Make all our moments calm and bright; 
Chase the dark night of sin away, 
Shed o'er the world Thy holy light. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: there- 
fore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jer. 31: 3. 
Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve 
me. Ps. 40: 11. But as for me I will come into thy house 
in the multitude of thy mercy. Ps. 5: 7. 

This is the answer to you when the heart, filled with 
wonder, asks, How can the Lord love such a wicked, 
sinful and unworthy being as I? ■ Out of pure mercy, 
without your merit, says the Lord. I loved you even 
from the beginning when I saw you in your sins. Before 
we ever existed, His eyes saw how wicked and ungrate- 
ful we would be. Yet He Himself assures us that He 
loved us in this miserable and abominable condition, and 
that He in love, mercy,- and goodness, has drawn us 
unto Himself. What kind of goodness is that ? How can 
it love that which is wicked ? Ah ! it does not love the 
wickedness which is within us', but the good which it 
will work in us. It loves to make that which is wicked, 
good. Hence, if you feel thoroughly wicked and un- 
worthy of His goodness, do not on that account push 
His blessed hand away, but believe and be fully 
convinced that His good hand is upon you to make you 
good, pure and holy, such as, according to His pur- 
pose], you shall be. Therefore, do not hinder it by an 
ill-timed humility. If you love that which is good, then 
let the good and gracious hand of God make you good, 



33i 

prepare, strengthen and establish yon. Do yon wish to 
remain wicked? Yon will remain so forever if yon do 
not lay hold of His goodness and permit it to work in 
yon. Rather pray with David (Ps. 5: 8), as quoted 
above.^ He also felt himself an unworthy sinner. Re- 
solve just because of your weakness as he resolved, "I 
will come into Thy house. I will seek Thy presence, 
Thy face, trusting in the multitude of Thy mercy." 'To 
come into His house" means to enter one's own heart ; 
for He dwells in the heart as His house. He who in 
spirit and in truth prays there and tarries with Him, 
shall experience His mercy and truth. There He makes 
His face to shine upon us. 

Into His presence let us haste 

To thank Him for His favors past; 

To Him address in joyful songs, 

The praise that to His name belongs. 



THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 



Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hy- 
pocrisy. Luke 12: 1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, 
and all guile, and hypocricies, etc. 1 Pet. 2:1. 

The hypocrites say, "We have made lies our refuge, 
and under falsehood have we hid ourselves" (Is. 28: 
15). What a poor cover, what a poor refuge! For the 
Lord knows their hypocrisy (Mark 12: 15). Read the 
eight woes (A Eat. 23), which the Savior has pronounced 
upon the hypocrites and learn that there is no vice 
which God detests and condemns as much as this most 
infamous of all vices, which is committed sometimes in 
a gross and sometimes in a subtle manner. A man 
likes to seem pious even though he himself admits that 
he is not pious, and by a sinful life clearly demonstrates 
to others that he is not pious. Such a man likes to 
appear to the eyes of others as one who has religion 
very much at heart. This is the gross hypocrisy. A 
more artful and subtle hypocrisy is when one flat- 
ters himself with the imagination that he is pious 
and is regarded by others as such. Secretly he lives 



332 

in sins which, in order to quiet his conscience, he does 
not regard as sins, but attributes to human weakness, or 
covers by a false confidence in God's mercy and the merits 
of Christ ; he passes lightly over them, and counts himself 
secure. Another kind of hypocrisy is that of those who 
are possessed by a false zeal ; who, driven by passions, per- 
secute others, thinking thereby to render unto God a 
service and to be zealous for Him, while natural im- 
petuosity and blind rage constitute the real motive for 
their zealousness. The worst hypocrites are the ''false 
apostles," these children of the devil, who, born by the 
father of hypocrisy, assume the form of an angel of 
light only in order to make as many as possible the 
children of hell (2 Cor. n: 14). Beware of the subtle 
as well as of the gross hypocrisy ! For "the Lord trieth 
the hearts and reins, and He delights in uprightness" 
(Ps. 7: 10; 1 Chron. 27). 

O Lord, who triest hearts and reins, 
Detesting him who cnly feigns: 
Grant that Thy grace and truth may be 
Before Thy throne my only plea. 



MONDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling — 

that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of 

God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse 
nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; hold- 
ing forth the word of life; that I may reoice in the day of 
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 
Phil. 2: 12. 15. 16. 

Can it be a matter of indifference to teacher, father, 
or mother, whether their efforts in regard to those who 
are the objects of their labors, are successful or not? 
What joy is it not to the gardener when his plants grow, 
and his trees bear fruit! What joy to the farmer, when 
his fields, which he has plowed and sown in sweat 
and labor, give a rich crop! We rejoice, nevertheless, 
with trembling. One warns those who are the objects 
of one's labor, as Paul did the Philippians, Beware of 



333 

yourselves, tremble because of your weakness and your 
inclination to security and drowsiness. Do not let this 
beneficial fear (for servile fear be far from you), this 
"trembling" called forth by grace, take away your cour- 
age, but let it rather incite you to trust all the more 
firmly in the Lord, who can and will work in you both to 
will and to do, so that you really become "lights" in the 
dark world, and, by your pious and blameless conversa- 
tion, differ from those who are "perverse" as the sun 
differs from the night. Wherever you stand, in your 
house, in your family, in the environment and circle 
in which you live, you are to stand as lights on the 
candlestick, you are to let your light so shine that it 
catches the eyes of dark and blind unbelief, so that men 
ask, Where does this light come from? Then you point 
to Him who is your light and who "lighteth every man 
that cometh into the world." Hold forth the word of 
life; then you shall live and shine. Where there is 
life in the heart, there is light, — it breaks forth and 
shines. But where only the dead word lies in the head 
and hangs upon the lips there is no light of life, no 
warmth of life, only death and darkness ; there is no edi- 
fication, no growth, no working out of one's salvation. 
Such Christians had better, with "fear and trembling," 
begin to seek and to work out their own salvation. 

I want a true regard, 

A single steady aim, 

Unmoved by threatening or reward, 

To Thee and Thy great name: 

A zealous, just concern 

For Thine immortal praise; 

A pure desire that all may learn 

And glorify Thy grace. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



How unsearchable are God's judgments, a.nd his ways 
past finding out! Rom. 11: 33. I am the Lord and there is 
none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make 
peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things. Is. 

45: 6. 7. 



334 

Wonderfully, yea, very wonderfully, and yet blessed- 
ly and gloriously, the Lord leads His own. No way is 
like unto the way of the Lord. No matter how full the 
way may be with thorns that often pierce the soles of 
the feet to bleeding, and you cry out with pain, vet 
His way has something attractive about it which you 
would not trade away for all the happiness and riches 
in the world. He lets the world walk in its merry 
way. Those who are His own He throws some- 
times into the water, sometimes into' the fire; leads and 
lifts them now above the mountains and again casts 
them down into the abyss, from which no rescue seems 
possible. Now He surrounds them with honor and 
glory as Jesus did on Mount Tabor ; then He covers them 
with disgrace and ridicule, so that even a dog will not 
look at them, and the worst criminal seems to be more 
honorable than such a bosom child of God. Their heart 
is often so filled with Him that heaven seems to have 
descended to them, but afterward they are forsaken and 
depressed as if all the spirits of hell had taken up their 
abode in them. Often they believe themselves to be stand- 
ing in sunshine. Then again they walk in Egyptian 
darkness. Now they have Omnipotence in their hands. 
At another time they are so bound and paralyzed that 
they are unable to lift a straw, yea, not even able to 
stand upright. Why? The answer is as above quoted 
in Is. 45 : 6. 7. God be praised ! If only He lead you, 
then care not how it is done; care only by whom it is 
done. Say with David, 'Tor Thy name's sake, lead me 
and guide me" (Ps. 31 : 3). Let the way lead wherever 
it may, if only His hand guides us. 

So long Thy power has blessed, 

Sure it still will lead me on 

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till 

The night is gone; 

And with morn those angel faces smile, 

Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. 



335 

WEDNESDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 13: 14. I am 
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but 
Christ liveth in me. Gal. 2: 20; 1 Cor. 15; 31; Phil. 3. 

If we did not receive a new garment, we should 
perish in the old garment of sin and mortality. But 
such a new garment is given to us by God and offered 
to us through the Gospel. It is handed to us and put 
on us when we stretch out our hands for it ; readily 
put off the old garment and willingly let go of it. On 
the other hand, he who loves the old man with 
the lusts and desires so highly that he will not sepa- 
rate from it, can have no part in the new man which 
is Christ. Paul says (Gal. 3: 2j), ''For as many of you 
as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." 
Yet he says (Rom. 13: 14), to all who are already bap- 
tized, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Is it, then, 
necessary to put on that which we have already put 
on ? Yes, certainly ; because we often put off that which 
in the first zeal we have put on ; and because we have 
not yet put Christ on in such an inseparable manner 
that we continually remain in Him. He who remains 
in Christ need not continually put Him on anew. All 
that he needs is to hold fast to Him, and possess his 
heart and his thoughts in His peace. Thus says also St. 
Paul (Gal. 2: 20), "I am crucified with Christ. Never- 
theless," he says, "I die daily." The putting off of the 
old man and the putting on of the new man, or the 
death of the old man, and the life in Christ, is, therefore, 
something which even the apostles could not so quickly 
accomplish. Much less, then, dare we regard ourselves 
as perfect. We must strive daily to die, and daily to 
live in Jesus. If we saw and clearly understood how 
little the filthy garment of the old man -is becoming to 
us ; how it mars our looks in the eyes of God, we would 
hate the garment soiled by the flesh ; we would hasten 
to get rid of it to-day rather thru to-morrow. If we 
had a clear idea of the beauty and glory of the new man ; 
if Christ were thoroughly revealed to us ; if we believed 



336 

that He is given unto us in order that we should put 
Him on, abide and live in Him, we would not remain 
so long without Him ; we would lay hold of Him and 
hasten to Him just as one who is naked hastens into 
the clothes, ashamed at his nakedness. 

Lord, I come to Thee for rest! 
Take possession of my breast; 
There Thy blood-bought right maintain, 
And without a rival reign. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the hea- 
then do: for they think that they shall be heard for their 
much speaking. Mat. 6. 7. I am weary wjth my groaning; 
all the night I make my bed to swim; I water my couch 
with my tears. Ps. 6: 6. My tears have been my meat day 
and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is 
thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my 
soul in me. Ps. 42: 3. 4. 

There are many who think that prayer consists in 
using many words ; that he who talks a great deal to 
God about something, the more the better, is praying. 
Christ says that mere words are not sufficient, that it 
is heathenish and not Christian to use many words. Are 
we not to pray without ceasing, in all places? How 
would Christ have it, since we are not to use words, 
at least not many? , Ask David; he gives an an- 
swer in the name of all those who pray truly in the 
above cited passage (Ps. 6: 6; 42: 4). Isaiah makes it a 
condition upon which we receive help and power, that 
we be quiet and trust in God, and not carry on a war of 
words with Him (Is. 30: 15). Christ Himself — how 
few words He used in His most ardent prayer, in His 
deepest agony ! He repeated the same words three times. 
People err in that they believe that prayer is a matter of 
the tongue and not of the heart. True, the tongue must be 
in the service of the heart when one is in need of it ; but 
the heart must pray, strive, wait, hope, believe and 
groan. Tears often express more than words. No doubt 
the bloody sweat and the tears of the Savior were a 



337 

stronger cry in the ears of the Father than His few 
and short words. Moses, also, cried unto God without 
opening his mouth (Ex. 14: 15). In the psalms one 
often hears David cry, and I am inclined to believe that 
inward crying is to be understood. Still, I shall 
not have anything against your often crying aloud when 
you must. Everything in its time. From this we may 
conclude how prayer-books are to be regarded as well 
as the prayers that are said according to such books. 
Yet I will not unconditionally condemn nor prohibit the 
use of good prayer-books. He who knows how to pray 
can also use them rightly. But as a rule they are like 
the handbooks of arithmetic, in which you can at once 
find everything without trouble, without having to work 
out the problem, and without knowing how to reckon. 
Such fellows are in my native country called "lazy 
dogs." 

Heavenly Father, Jesus taught us 

Thus to call Thee, in His name; 

His enduring merits wrought us 

Graciously this childhood's claim. 

Then with "Abba, Father!" come we, 

Place us wholly in Thy care; 

Oh, let naught e'er wrest us from Thee! 

Heed and hear Thy cnildren's prayer. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth 
the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath 
no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay 
upon his God. Is. 50: 10. O thou afflicted, tossed with 
tempest, and not comforted, behold I will lay thy stores 

with fair colors and gr^at shall be the peace of thy 

children. Is. 54: 11. 13. 

Thus the Lord comforts His sorrowful, persecuted, 
despised and believing souls here on earth. It is a 
consolation that comes down from heaven, from the 
lips of the Savior and through His Spirit; His word 
does not come empty. Our God does not speak 
empty words, and does not mock us in our misery. 
What He promises He most assuredly keeps. There^ 



338 

fore, if you sit in darkness ; if the light of joy and com- 
fort does not shine for you, but you nevertheless love 
the Lord and obey His voice and all His words are 
precious and sacred to you, you know from His own 
mouth that He allows you, yea, commands you, to trust 
in Him. Just as surely as He lives and has spoken this, 
so surely will the light of comfort and help again 
rise for you. Seek Him only, not the comfort, and you 
shall find both Him and the comfort. For he who pos- 
sesses Him — what more does he need? Behold, how 
compasionately He calls you, "Thou afflicted, tossed with 
tempest." He knows only too well how it goes with 
His Church, the congregation of His believers, His dear 
sheep. Alas ! they are, it is true, a prey to all the storms 
of persecution. But He knows it and He sees it, and in 
return He promises His children great things, things that 
can not be uttered, — they are to have great peace. Yes, 
the storms of tribulation bring a peace which those do not 
know who are not subject to them. 

Thou everywhere hast sway, 

And all things serve Thy might; 

And every act pure blessing is, 

Thy path unsullied light. 

When Thou arisest, Lord, 

What shall Thy work withstand? 

When all Thy children want, Thou giv'st, 

Who, who shall stay Thy hand? 



SATURDAY AFTER THE SEVENTEENH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh 
my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and 
setteth me upon my high places. Ps. 18: 32. 33. Some trust 
in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the 
name of the Lord our God. Ps. 20: 7. He will regard the 
prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. Ps. 
102: 17. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that 
we are dust. Ps. 103: 14. 

The natural man thinks himself equal to everything; 
yet he cannot do anything right. All that his hand lays 
hold of, all that he does, becomes perverted, because his 
heart and mind are perverted. The pardoned and en- 



339 

lightened Christian acknowledges at all times his perfect 
inability. He trusts therefore not in the chariots and 
horses of his own strength, but only in the name of the 
Lord, prays, fights and waits for God, in whom he is 
able to do all things. For the Lord ''girdeth" all those 
with strength who ask Him for it, and He maketh their 
way "perfect." Yea, the Lord can thus strengthen and 
revive even the weakest one who trusts in Him alone ; 
like a 'hind, he walks courageously in God's ways, hastens 
over the hills and mountains of tribluations and hard- 
ships, and presses forward to the goal. No one who 
is weak and miserable, who really feels himself weak 
and miserable, should lose courage ; he should only pray 
diligently and confidently for strength ; for the Lord 
knows our misery and our weakness better than we 
ourselves do. He knows better than we that we can 
do. nothing, absolutely nothing, without Him, and that 
we must succumb and perish if He does not help us. 
As it is His earnest will that we should not perish but 
be saved and glorified, it is evident that He must help 
us when we desire help and ask Him to help us. This 
you must believe fully and firmly ; for it is the truth, 
and this truth makes you strong and your feet like the 
feet of an hind. 

Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then 
Have nothing else to fear; 
Make you His service your delight, 
He'll make your wants His care. 



THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense 
tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are 
troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be re- 
vealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance 

on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes. 1: 6-8. 

Read this whole chapter and study it thoroughly. 
Here you may see how glorious, how unharmed and 
transfigured all those are to be in heaven who here have 
laid stress on sanctification and who therefore have had 
to suffer dishonor, ridicule and persecution at the hands 



34c 

of the world. Here you may also see what will happen 
to those who have ridiculed piety and faith, and perse- 
cuted pious men. They will confess who and how they 
have been. Now they imagine themselves to be wise 
and enlightened, and grossly abuse the godly and call 
them fools, fanatics, eccentrics and muddled pates. In 
eternity they will realize that they themselves have been 
such that they lost the right way, walked in darkness 
and have not known the true light. Then they will see 
those pious ones whom they have reviled and despised, 
among the children of God, and themselves among the 
children of the devil and of darkness. They will see 
how empty, useless and perverted that active life was 
by which they thought they rendered such important 
services to the world. Thus the Holy Spirit knows how 
to predict how the pious and the impious are to fare 
in the beyond, to the encouragement and strengthening of 
the former, and to the warning and. awakening of the 
latter, that they might repent and save themselves from 
this eternal remorse and disgrace. Ye beloved, who suf- 
fer ridicule and persecutions for righteousness' sake, be 
of good cheer and take to heart what is presented to 
you in this chapter. See to it that you really pursue 
sanctification, and that you truly suffer for righteous- 
ness' sake and not for the sake of your own sins. He 
who suffers for the sake of that which is good, may be 
undismayed. His joy and glory shall soon become great 
and eternal. 

When temptation sorely presses, 
In the day of Satan's power, 
In our times of deep distresses, 
In each dark and trying hour, 
By Thy mercy, 
O deliver us, good Lord! 



MONDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls 
of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the 
wicked. Ps. 97: 10. But I have a few things against thee. 
Rev. 2: 14. 20. And have no fellowship with the unfruit- 



341 

ful works of darkness. Eph. 5: 11. What communion hath 
light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6: 14. 

David says, "I will walk within my house with a 
perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine 
eyes : I hate the work of them that turn aside ; it shall 
not cleave to me" (Ps. ioi : 2. 3). How then should the 
Highest, the Holiest, be willing to dwell in a heart that 
yet loves sin, that does not forsake everything that is an 
abomination in His eyes ? He who says that he loves the 
Savior, and does not love what He loves and hate what 
He hates, is a liar ; he has never known Christ. The 
worldling- says, These are only trifles ; how can the 
Lord have aught against us on their account or be- 
grudge them ? He is not so strict ; He is not so 
exacting. What a false and wicked thought ! You your- 
self are exacting enough with others, if they transgress 
against you in a word or by a glance. Mark how 
God also (Rev. 2: 14. 20) is exacting in regard to 
trifles ; when He discovers anything sinful, no matter 
how insignificant, in aynone, He at once chastises and 
tries to better it by sharp threats. That which offends 
such Majesty and Love as He is, you ought not to call 
a small matter. And if you regard it as a small matter, 
insignificant and trivial in your eyes, it is all the worse 
that you cannot sacrifice such a trivial matter for Him. 
How are you to be able to give up great things when you 
can not master small things? The eye that shall see 
clearly and remain sound can not endure a particle of 
dust in it. The fire wants to be wholly pure ; it consumes 
everything that comes near it. The light endures no 
spots, no darkness ; it must be perfectly pure. 

Grant that our days, while life shall last, 
In purest holiness be passed; 
Our minds so rule and strengthen 
That they may rise o'er things of earth, 
The hopes and joys that here have birth; 
And if our course Thou lengthen, 
Keep Thou pure, Lord, from offenses, 
Heart and senses; Blessed Spirit, 
Bid us thus true life inherit. 



342 

TUESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: 
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. 10: 23. 
My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 
Ex. 33: 14. O send out thy light and thy truth: let them 
lead me. Ps. 43: 3. 

The ungodly think not of the providence of God. 
They believe that they do as they please. Man pro- 
poses, God disposes. Man intends evil in what he does; 
but God overrules it to good for those who trust in 
Him. God does not impair man's liberty; but he does 
not allow men to accomplish the intention and the ob- 
ject of their evil designs and deeds, if these do not serve 
for the good of His kingdom. Man wants to act in 
liberty, but the execution and accomplishment are not 
left to his power and liberty. God can hinder it or 
further it according to His own good pleasure. But 
the godly man never desires to lead and guide himself. 
He is not to take a single step without being led by the 
presence of the Lord, as Moses (Ex. 33: 22), without 
praying as David, "O send out Thy light and Thy truth : 
let them lead me." He who does not in all his works 
seek the presence of the Lord, as Moses did, walks about 
in the wilderness of this world without finding the way 
to the land of peace. He who does not in all his under- 
takings pray for light and the knowledge of the will of 
God, will certainly not succeed, or, if his plans succeed, 
it will not be to good fortune, but to his own destruction. 
He ascribes success to himself, becomes proud, and exalts 
himself because of it; it would have been better for him 
if he had never succeeded. The Lord has promised to 
guide us with His eye and teach us His will. "They 
shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I 
lead them" (Jer. 31: 9). Behold, here you have His 
word. When you are in a great dilemma or in dire 
straits, when you know not what to do, then weep before 
the Lord. Tell Him with tears of your distress, that He 
may guide you ; for Lie has promised to do so. 



343 

While I am a pilgrim here, 
Let Thy love my spirit cheer: 
As my guide, my sword, my friend, 
Lead me to my journey's end. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a 

clean heart. But as for me my steps had well nigh 

slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the 
prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their 
death: but their strength is firm. — — — How are they 
brought into desolation as in a moment! Ps. 73: 1-4. 19. 

The prosperity of the wicked is to many, even to up- 
right souls, the stumbling-block over which some come 
very near stumbling, and some actually fall, in that they 
have not patience enough to wait for the outcome. Read 
the whole psalm thoughtfully and see how true every word 
of it is. God does actually permit the ungodly, the unbe- 
lievers and the unrighteous, to prosper as if He were their 
friend and protector, while, on the other hand, the godly 
must suffer and be oppressed as if God were their enemy 
and opponent. Lo, this is the old story. Asaph and all 
the pious of former times knew of it and spoke about 
it. Thus it was thousands of years ago, thus it is at the 
present time, and thus it will continue to be as long as 
this world is in its present condition. When, therefore, 
you reject and despise godliness and faith in God and in 
Christ, or, perhaps, even fear it, because the believers 
do not prosper as the ungodly do, then you reject and 
condemn the saints and the righteous men of all times, 
the elect and well-beloved of God. They were all, all 
tried by much tribulation. But their end was glorious. 
Beyond they shine as the sun, and the Most High is their 
reward. How about the ungodly who are happy here? 
Their end is terrible, their lot will be terrible throughout 
all eternity. Would you, then, not rather suffer a short 
time with the righteous and thereupon be forever glo- 
rious? Or will you forget God, revel and carouse, and 
thereupon be cast into hell? Sav rather, "I will be con- 
tinually with Thee. Whom have I in heaven but Thee?" 
(Ps- 73- 23)- 



344 

O make but trial of His love: 
Experience will decide 
How blest are they, and only they, 
Who in His truth confide. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Fear not, neither be thou dismayed. Josh. 8: 1. And 
he shall judge the world in rightousness, he shall minister 
judgment to the people in uprightness. Ps. 9: 8. Great is 
our Lord and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 
Ps. 147: 5. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of 
thy judgments, O Lord. Ps. 97: 8. 

He who fears has forgotten that God is with him, 
that God directs all things, that not a hair can fall from 
his head without the will of the Father. Fear has its 
origin in ignorance or in forgetfulness of God, of the 
Savior, who has promised to be with us alway, even unto 
the end of the world. Fie who knows Jesus and believes 
in Him, who knows and believes in His divine attributes, 
His wisdom, His omnipotence, His love, His patience, and 
His omnipresence ; who never forgets that he has an al- 
mighty, all-wise, all-good and merciful God and Savior 
at his side, who hears him before he cries, and who has 
assured us that He Himself will dwell in us, — cannot 
fear, no matter how matters turn, though it seems that 
God does not exist, that no God of wisdom and of 
love rules the world. He rules nevertheless; but His 
thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. 
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are 
my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than 
your thoughts" (Is. 55: 8. 9). Faith which lays hold of 
and holds fast that omnipotence and love that is ever 
near him, stands without fear and terror. Faith is full 
of praise and adoration, and rejoices in the most wise 
and loving rergn of God. If faith is unable to com- 
prehend how He reigns — as God seemed to David, and 
has ever seemed to all the friends of God, incomprehensi- 
ble, nevertheless adorable, — yet faith rests trustingly in 
the arms of that Father, whose love governs all things 
righteously and wonderfully. 



345 

Deep in unfathomable mines 

Of never-failing skill, 

He treasures up His bright designs, 

And works His sovereign will. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, 
and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever. 
Dan. 7: 18. Cfr. Rev. 2: 10. 

The saints who consecrate themselves wholly to the 
Lord, who have put on Christ, God's salvation and God's 
righteousness, who walk in Him, and are preserved 
blameless unto His day, shall receive His kingdom 
and possess it for ever. Those who together with Paul 
"fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the 
faith," shall receive a glorious kingdom and a beautiful 
crown, the crown of righteousness, which the hand of 
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give them (2 Tim. 
4: 7. 8). O thou beautiful crown! O thou glorious 
kingdom ! He who never lost sight of thee, to him 
would none of the sufferings of this present time be so 
hard that he would not gladly bear them, to him would 
no joy, no honor, no wealth in this world, be so attractive 
that he would not gladly renounce it. To him the way 
unto thee would not be too steep, too rough, too hard. 
On the wings of love and longing he would soar above 
all things ; he would have his heart where thou, thou 
beautiful crown, thou glorious kingdom, art. He would 
forget that which is here below and only think of that 
which beckons to him from the other side. Beloved, let 
us not forget that which awaits us with the Lord. It 
is great ; it is beautiful ; it is glorious. Compared with 
that, all that we do and suffer is not worth mentioning. 
Let us do still more ; suffer still more. It is all, taken 
together, nothing compared with the crown. 

What though the tempests rage? 
Heaven is my home; 
Short is my pilgrimage, 
Heaven is my home. 



346 

And Time's wild wintry blast 
Soon shall be overpast, 
I shall reach home at last; 
Heaven is my home. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth 

after thee, as a thirsty land. Ps. 143: 6. Rejoice the soul of 

thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

Ps. 86: 4. 

Thus it is written in the hearts of the pious ; thus 
a thousand times cries every soul that loves the Lord ; 
thus cries its whole being, without words, without any 
outward sound, to the invisible, yet ever-present God. 
He who has tasted how good He is, can no more 
live without Him. There is a constant longing and 
yearning, hunger and thirst for Him in the depths of 
his soul, that sometimes becomes audible and breaks forth 
in such psalms as David, Asaph, and other friends of 
the living God, have sung. Whatever they find in the 
world, whatever is presented to them, has no attraction 
for them. They have no such taste for anything else 
as they have for Him. They have, as some one has said, 
but one passion, and that is Him, only Him. Now the 
Lord gives Himself to them to be enjoyed by them, and 
they drink of the streams of eternal life that issue forth 
out of God's paradise. Then He hides Himself from 
them, and O, they are as if cast down from heaven to 
hell ; they feel this trial as the most intense, most scorch- 
ing fire of purification, which nevertheless only calls 
forth a still more burning thirst for Him, and the soul 
longs for Him all the more deeply, and seeks His face 
with all the more glowing desire. They hold fast to 
Him in faith and do not let go of Him, no matter how 
He deals with them. Nothing is able to separate them 
from Him. Dear soul, how do you stand in regard to 
God? Are you thus joined together with Him? Are 
you thus clinging to Him? Does He not deserve it? 
Do you know of other things that by right you may 
prefer to Him? Can any love be too great for Him — 



347 

do too much for Him ? Is there a danger that you cling 
too much to Him, that you long too much for Him? 
T doubt it. Pardon my distrust. 

I heard the voice of Jesus say, 

"Behold, I freely give 

The living water; thirsty one, 

Stoop down and drink, and live." 

I came to Jesus, and I drank 

Of that life-giving stream; 

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, 

And now I live in Him. 



THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 



I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me, and art be- 
come my salvation. Ps. 118: 21. Thou, which hast shewed 

me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again. 

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on ev- 
ery side. Ps. 71: 20. 21. 

As long as afflictions, temptations, misfortunes, by 
which God humbles us, last, it is hard for the poor human 
heart. The heart discovers neither counsel nor help. Yet, 
when the heart looks up to Him who directs all things, 
and without whom nothing can happen to us or meet us ; 
when it recalls how often He has delivered it out of 
distress, comforted the frightened soul, sent joy after 
sorrow, and how He always lets great blessings follow 
upon great afflictions, the heart will, if it endure, at last 
give thanks for the great gain which the soul has obtained 
through affliction. Afflictions humble, make the soul little 
and bowed down ; lead to the realization and confession of 
sin. God gives grace to the humble ; but He resists the 
proud. He must, therefore, first curb our pride, our 
arrogance, that He may show grace to those who are 
humbled and raise them up. By affliction He seeks a 
way to our hearts, when He can not find it because of our 
pride. Hence He has intended only grace, peace, and glo- 
rification, even though He has cast you to the ground, 
stricken or humbled you. He will make you great and 
glorious. Therefore He has made you small and insig- 
nificant. Will you not permit Him to do so? Will you 



348 

prohibit Him from so doing? If so, He can do nothing 
for you, and you remain a proud fool in that you shun the 
way that leads to true exaltation. 

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead Thou me on! 
The night is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead Thou me on! 
Keep Thou my feet! I do not ask to see 
The distant scene; one step enough for me. 



MONDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what 
ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put 
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than rai- 
ment? Mat. 6: 25. Casting all your care upon God, for he 
careth for you. 1 Pet. 5: 7. Be careful of nothing; but in 
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, 
let your requests be made known unto God. Phil. 4: 6. 

When a child of God is overcome and distressed 
by worries and thoughts of the future, it has ceased 
believing in God as its Father and in Jesus as its 
Savior and Shepherd ; it denies by this unbelieving 
sorrow the faith in God and in Jesus, and is worse than 
a heathen ; for a heathen knows nothing of God and 
His word and thus he can not believe. O thou mis- 
erable soul, awake! Have you forgotten that God is a 
loving Father to you, and that He cares for you as the 
most loving and tender father on earth can not care for 
his child ? Have you forgotten that Jesus is your Broth- 
er, your Shepherd, and your Savior, who has promised 
you eternal life, of which He has even now given you by 
anticipation? Should not He give you what you need 
here? Have you ceased to believe that He has bought 
you with His blood? Should He now forsake you be- 
cause of trivialities ? Shall He take His hands that were, 
pierced for you away from you? Look once more into 
His eyes or into His heart, and you shall see that your 
High-priest has not yet cast you away, that the hen has 



349 

not yet trodden the life out of her chicks, and that the 
Shepherd has not turned away His sheep. You shall 
see that as a mother He yet carries you in His bosom. 
But look upward to Him ! Otherwise you cannot see 
this. Look not only to the earth and earthly things, not 
only into yourself and round about your environments. 
Up, up to Him with your heart and mind ! He cares 
and He must care for you. He cannot do otherwise. 
You are His and He will not let go of you. 

Even the hour that darkest seemeth 
Will His changeless goodness prove; 
From the gloom His brightness streameth, 
God is wisdom, God is love. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant 
knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you 
friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I 
have made known unto you. John 15: 15. And I will make 
an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn 

away from them. Yea, I will rejoice over them to 

do them good. Jer. 32: 40. 41. I will be with him in trou- 
ble. Ps. 91: 15. 

All the attributes that Sirach and every friend re- 
quires in a friend are found in no such high degree 
in any being in heaven or on earth as in Jesus, the 
Friend of our hearts and souls. A faithful friend is 
a strong protection. A true friend can not be valued 
according to other things. "A true friend is the heal- 
ing of life; and he is proved in time of need" (Sir. 6: 
15 — 17; 12: 11*). Of whom can all this be said but 
of Jesus, who just in the time of need is with us ; who 
will deliver us in all need, in the need of death and of sin, 
when none of our friends are able to help us? In Prov. 
18: 24, we read, "There is a friend that sticketh closer 
than a brother." This can not be said so truly of any- 
body else as of our Friend at the right hand of God. 
He has sworn friendship and love for us forever ; He 
has pledged Himself not to cease to do us good. It 

* This book is apocryphal, and not found in the Bible. 



35° 

is His great delight, not only to do us good, but to be 
and to abide with us. He trusts us with the mysteries of 
His Father, keeps nothing back of all that which He has 
heard of His Father, but pours it out into the bosom 
of His friends. O my friend, be a friend of Jesus, and 
regard it as the greatest happiness to be able to be a 
friend of Jesus. The condition is found in John 15: 14. 
In the 13th verse you read the greatest proof of His 
friendship for you, so that it would be the meanest sin 
to doubt if He is your friend, or will be your friend, if 
you want Him as such. For he who dies for me can not 
be my enemy ; can not withdraw his hand from me, when 
I want to grasp it. Draw near to the cross and look into 
the heart of your friend. What do you read there? 

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood; 
Thou savest those that on Thee call; 
To them that seek Thee, Thou art good, 
To them that find Thee, All in all. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might 
remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15: 
11; 16: 24. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord 
hath dealt bountifully with thee. Ps. 116: 7. And the disci- 
ples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Acts 
13: 52. 

True joy and undisturbed, eternal peace enter the 
heart of man only when the Holy Ghost takes up His 
abode therein and the Lord Himself speaks to the 
heart. The ungodly and the unbelievers, the uncon- 
verted and the lukewarm Christians, have no peace and 
no pure, abiding joy. There is war and disturbance in 
every heart in which the God of peace does not dwell 
by faith in Christ. Even the believer has lost peace 
as soon as he departs from faith or falls into luke- 
warmness and drowsiness, and does not abide in 
Jesus but loses Him out of his sight and heart. Come, 
therefore, all ye hearts that seek peace and joy, come 
unto Jesus, the Prince of Peace ; receive Him by faith 
lovingly into your hearts. He will build His tabernacle 



35i 

of peace there, will come in to you, and bring you pure 
joy. With Him, heaven alters your soul. As long as 
we live here below, this is a matter of uncertainty. We 
carry this treasure in a weak vessel of clay and we 
must be very watchful and faithful, lest we lose it. If 
the Lord withholds it from us with or without our own 
fault for a season and for wise purposes, we are not 
therefore to lose courage, but to enter only the more into 
our own heart and wait with all the more zeal before 
His door until He again takes pity on us. 

Peace in our hearts, our evil thoughts assuaging, 
Peace in Thy Church, where brothers are engaging, 
Peace, when the world its busy war is waging, 
Send us, O Savior. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Who dM: thou? John 1: 19. Mind not high things, but 
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your 
own conceits. Rom. 12: 16. 17. For i; a man think himself 
to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth him- 
self. Gal. 6: 3. 

"Who art thou?" the priests and the Pharisees asked 
of John. They would have done better if they had 
asked themselves this question. A man should ask him- 
self this question seven times a day ; then there would be 
less conceit and more humility and love among Chris- 
tians. Who are you? Are you something in your own 
conceit? If so, then you are not only nothing, which we 
all are, but you are besides a puffed-up simpleton, de- 
ceiving yourself or being deceived. Consider your own 
self in comparison with the example of Christ and of His 
followers, the apostles ; consider yourself in comparison 
with the example of the martyrs and other excellent 
men, and you shall find that you are yet far behind. 
Consider yourself in comparison with the duties of your 
state and calling only, and you will surely acknowledge 
yourself to be a great debtor and transgressor. Those 
men, especially pious men, know themselves the least, 
who strive to obtain high things, high knowledge, deep 
insight and special things that others do not know nor 



352 

have any knowledge of. Such persons lose themselves 
so that they can no longer find the way back to their 
own self. Beware ! Do not look up to the heights. 
God knows what it is. If you are to see and know, then 
He will show you more in a moment than you can search 
out in a hundred years. Do not look upward to the 
heights; look inward, into your own self. Condescend 
to those who are humble and of low estate. Keep' your- 
self down in the valley of self-knowledge and self-abase- 
ment ; then God shall exalt you and reveal to you things 
that you could never find on the dizzy heights but only 
in the way of humble faith. 

Let me never from Theo stray, 
Keep me in the narrow way; 
Fill my soul with joy divine, 
Keep me, Lord! forever Thine. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an 
hireling looketh for the reward of his work; so am I made 
to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are ap- 
pointed to me. Job 7: 2. 3. Thou makest darkness, and it 
is night. Ps. 104: 20. 

We should have to reject the providence of God in 
the lives of all the heroes of faith and patience, if we 
did not follow in their footsteps, if we did not admit that 
even the most enlightened, believing Christian, must be 
led inta deep darkness and black nights in order to be- 
come thoroughly enlightened and experienced. Was not 
Job a man in whom God was pleased? Was he not 
guided by the Lord ? Listen to what he has to tell you. 
Hear how he often was in spiritual darkness for sev- 
eral months at a time. No hireling longs so for rest, 
no servant in the heat of the sun longs so for the shadow, 
as the soul walking in dark ways longs for light and com- 
fort from the Lord. Mark this saying of Job, "Weari- 
some nights are appointed to me" — not such nights as 
the vicious, the covetous, the careworn have, who are trou- 
bled and kept awake by the superfluous sorrows of greed 



353 

or unbelief, by lust and revengefulness. No, the weari- 
someness of these nights consisted in inward struggles 
against that spiritual darkness in which the Lord hides 
Himself with His light and leaves the soul to itself until 
it breaks forth in sighs and presses through in prayer 
and supplication, and the clearly beaming face of the Lord 
again shines upon it. David says that the Lord makes 
this darkness, this night. He gives and withdraws the 
light for certain reasons. He makes darkness and light 
in the soul, that it may know where to turn in order 
to obtain light. Lord, make Thy face to shine upon us 
and we shall be saved. 

To mine His Spirit speaketh 
Sweet words of soothing power, 
How God to him that seeketh 
For rest, hath rest in store — 
How God Himself prepareth 
My heritage and lot, 
And though my body weareth, 
My heaven shall fail me not. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Be thou faithful unto death, gnd I will give thee a 
crown of life. Rev. 2: 10. Behold I come quickly: hold that 
fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Rev. 
3: 11. 

To be "faithful" is something that brings gain to 
ourselves only and by which God gains nothing; and 
yet He promises us a crown if we are faithful. 
There are very few who care for this crown. Besides, 
to be faithful is impossible for us unless He Himself 
works it in us; and yet He crowns our faithfulness as 
if it were a work we had done ourselves. Thus faithful 
and merciful is the Lord. Does He not deserve our 
faithfulness? He has Himself been faithful even unto 
the death on the cross ; then it is nothing too much that 
He demands faithfulness in us, a faithfulness that brings 
us the crown. But thou unfaithful heart that daily 
breakest faith and trust, — whence wilt thou obtain faith- 
fulness unto death? From Him who grants all grace 



354 

and virtue, the faithful God, who has promised me all 
things, and who, because of his faithfulness and 
truthfulness daily, yea, a thousand times a day, if I 
need it, gives it to me without upbraiding; He who 
has made all His faithful servants and all His faith- 
ful handmaids who have ever lived faithful unto 
the end ; He who remains faithful e^en though we be- 
come unfaithful ; He who much less can forget and 
forsake us than can a mother her child, a hen her 
chicks. If the confidence and zeal dwell in your breast 
to pray to the Lord as often as you are in need, you 
will hold that fast which you have and not leave your 
crown to anyone else. Keep your crown which your 
Savior suffered so much to procure for you, and which 
you must not ascribe to your own faithfulness, but solely 
to His grace. He will give it to you* O thou crown 
in the hand of our Mediator! Shine often before our 
eyes in such a way that we lay hold of thee, hold thee 
fast and not let thee go. Lord ! strengthen those 
who are weak. 

Why should I shrink from pain and woe, 
Or feel at death dismay? 
I've Canaan's goodly land in view, 
And realms of endless day. 



THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 



Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Mat. 9: 9. 
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow 
me. John 10: 27. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers 
of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor. 4: 16; 11: 1. 

How can he who has received grace, quickening 
grace from Christ, who is really awakened out of his 
sinful stupor, remain lying and not arise and follow 
Him who has awakened him and constantly cries, "Follow 
me ! Follow me ! How shall he who is truly awak- 
ened do otherwise than follow Christ? Can he be 
called a sheep of Christ if he does not look to 
Christ, hear His voice and follow Him? Jesus called 
Matthew and the other disciples ; they arose and followed 
Him, not on foot only, but also in the spirit, in 



355 

mind and in conduct. They observed how He thought 
and spoke and acted, and conformed themselves to 
Him. Whom else would you follow than Christ? 
Whom else would you be like than Him ? Would 
you follow Paul? Very well. Behold, he follows 
Christ. If Christ visibly associated with you, would you 
not then closely observe all His ways and manners? 
Would you not do everything according to what you saw 
Him do? Well, then, observe Him thus in the spirit. 
Look into His book, into His life, and He shall show 
you how you are to think in regard to all things ; how 
you are in all things to speak and act, in order to be 
perfectly like Him. If you do not follow Christ, you 
have never received any grace of Him, or else you have 
thrown away both the grace and Christ ; you are not 
a sheep of Christ, but a child of the world and barred 
from the citizenship of Israel. 

Show me what I have to do, 
Every hour my strength renew; 
Let me live a life of faith, 
Let me die Thy people's death. 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O peo- 
ple saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is 
the sword of thy excellency! Deut. 33: 29. Blessed is the 
nation whose God is the Lord. Ps. 33: 12. Blessed is the 
man whose strength is in thee. Blessed is the man that 
trusteth in thee. Ps. 84: 5. 12. 

If Moses called the people of Israel "blessed," be- 
cause the Lord took up their cause in their wars against 
other nations and overcame their enemies, how much 
more ought not we to call ourselves and all those blessed 
who together with us believe in Jesus, love Him, and 
carry His saving grace and love in our hearts, have 
the forgiveness of sins, Spirit and life in Him, that we 
might serve Him in a living hope of eternal life ! Yea, 
blessed art thou, O people, who art saved in the Lord — 
whose Lord and God is Jesus Christ. Blessed art thou. 
O people, that thy strength is in Him, that thou trustest 



356 

in Him alone, that thou buildest upon His merits and 
His grace alone. He shall be the shield of thy help 
and the ^word of thy excellency. If you cling to Him 
alone, and love Him with all your soul, you shall by a liv- 
ing faith in Him as with a shield avoid all the fiery darts 
of Satan ; you shall with His living word as a two-edged 
sword defeat all the cnemeies of your soul, conquer in 
all spiritual wars, and win the crown of life. Blessed 
art thou, God's Israel, who is like unto thee? Where is 
there a people with such a King, such a Head, such 
rights, such treasures and wealth, such hopes and such 
outlook as to eternity? Thy King is with thee, and in 
thee ; He is thine, and all things are thine with Him. 

In our weakness and distress, 
Rock of strength! be Thou our stay: 
In the pathless wilderness, 
Be our true and living way. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath 
forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that 
she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? 
yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I 
have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls 
are continually before me. Is. 49: 14-16. The Lord hath 
been mindful of us; he will bless us. Ps. 115: 12. Who 
remembered us in our low estate. Ps. 136: 23. 

Who has ever assured us thus of his love and faith- 
fulness? Who has ever reprimanded us thus for our 
mistrust? W T here is there a love like unto His love? 
Motherly love is but a shadow as compared with His 
love. His wounded hands and feet; His pierced heart 
in which our names are written, are proofs thereof, 
proofs that never could be more convincing. If we 
would only heed them more as He urges us to do, it 
would be impossible for us a single moment, even in the 
greatest heart-sorrow, to doubt His love. But our in- 
tent gaze at the visible, at the shell of things, at the 
outward appearance, hides the flaming writing of His 
love from us. Look up to the "hills"! Up to GoWotha ! 



357 

There you see how deeply you are written on His heart, 
who does not forget the sparrow on the roof or the young 
ravens in the nest. How should He be able to forget 
you, O ye of little faith? God does not send you trib- 
ulations in order to smite you to the ground, but to 
raise you up ; not that you should bow the head, but 
that you should look up to Him from whom such trials 
come. When anything falls upon your head you look 
up quickly, to see where it came from, to ascertain who 
threw it upon your head. Why do you not do the same 
when the Lord sends a cross down to you from heaven? 
How wrongly you act in regard to visitations and af- 
flictions that God sends you, thinking that the Lord has 
now forgotten you ! Quite the contrary. It should be 
to you a proof that God is mindful of you, that He 
has visited you, that He has entered in to you, that He 
loves you, and that He chooses you in the furnace of 
affliction in order that you may look up to Him. 

Abide with us, our Savior, 
Sustain us by Thy word; 
That we with all Thy people 
To life may be restored. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth 
me. Phil. 4: 13. The weapons of our warfare are mighty 
through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Cor. 10: 4. 
By my God have I leaped over a wall. 2 Sam. 22: 30. 

Thus spoke and acted the soldiers and heroes of 
Christ, who trusted in God. They knew their own weak- 
ness better than all who excuse themselves with their 
weakness and make it a cloak for their cowardice and 
fear in battle. If you know that you are weak, that 
the enemy is mighty, and that you are threatened, then 
seek help and strength, that you may overcome him ; 
otherwise you will become your enemy's slave. Satan, sin 
and the world, this triple enemy, will not cease to attack 
you because you are weak and entrench yourself behind 
the excuse of weakness. He is sure of the victory 
when, he finds you alone, hence he dares to attack you. 



358 

If you, on the other hand, are in Christ and Christ is 
in you, then let a thousand armies from hell, all the 
temptations of the flesh, all enticements and threats from 
a million worlds storm upon you ; let them build a tow- 
ering- bulwark of the most seductive art of persuasion 
against you, yet you shall conquer them. They shall be 
unable to accomplish anything against you. Our fight 
is mighty through God when we are in God and God 
in us. Without Him we are terribly weak and certainly 
soon lost. Strive, therefore, to abide in Jesus, your 
God and Savior. Do not dare to take a single step 
without Him. 

With might of ours can naught be done, 

Soon were our loss effected; 

But for us fights the valiant One 

Whom God Himself elected. 

Ask ye, Who is this? 

Jesus Christ it is, 

Of Sabaoth Lord 

And there's none other God, 

He holds the field forever. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



He spake and it was done. Ps. 33: 9. For I am the 
Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall 
come to pass; it shall no more be prolonged. Ezek. 12: 25. 

If you trust in the Lord, you can rest securely in 
regard to all future things ; you can be without a care 
as to what is going to happen to you. What the Lord 
has resolved in regard to you, will in due time come to 
pass ; no one is able to hinder it, neither you yourself 
nor any other human being. Be faithful in all things 
that are yours and leave all else which is not dependent 
upon you, wholly to Him who doeth all things well. 
Where is your faith in God's word? Has He not prom- 
ised you that He will be your Father and your support 
and that He will carry you even to hoary hairs ? Has He 
not declared to you that all the hairs upon your head are 
numbered ? That not a single one of them all shall be lost 



359 

without His will ? That He will interest Himself in a fa- 
therly manner in all things that concern you, and that if 
you but love Him, He will lead all things to the best for 
you ? Where is your faith in the word of God ? Why do 
you trouble yourself with unnecessary thoughts, by which 
ypu can not make a hair black or white ? Love Him and 
do not doubt that He loves you. By your fear and 
sorrow you accuse Him of falsehood, as if in His word 
He had promised you what He would not or could not 
keep. What? Would you make God a liar? Rather say, 
Has He said it, and He should not do it? Has He 
spoken, and He should not keep it? 

Through this vain world He guides our feet, 

And leads us to His heavenly seat. 

His mercies ever shall endure, 

When this vain world shall be no more. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



David swore unto the Lord, Surely I will not 

come into the tabernacle of my house 1 will not give 

sleep to mine eyes until I fijid out a place for the 

Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Ps. 
132: 2-5. 

Dear David, how zealous you were in finding a place 
for the Lord ! We slumber so peacefully before we 
have found and built up a place for the Savior of our 
souls in our heart! The Lord will no longer dwell in 
temples built with hands (Acts 7: 48) ; He will now 
choose our hearts as His temple, as it is written, "Ye are 
the temples of the living God ; as God hath said, I -will 
dwell in them, and walk in them" (2 Cor. 6: 16). How 
can you believe this promise if you sleep a single night 
before you seek and find a place for the Most High in 
your heart, so that He even to-day may come and take up 
His abode in you,, He, who now stands at the door 
knocking for admittance that He might sup with you 
(John 14: 23; Rev. 3: 20)? How can you believe that 
God to-dav will come and dwell in vou since vou 



360 

remain cold and indifferent, and do nothing to receive 
Him? Let Him have your heart; say to Him, Come 
in, Thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest Thou 
without? Verily, you ought not to allow your eyelids 
any sleep before this precious promise is fulfilled upon 
you. If it is not so fulfilled, do not say that you have 
faith, and that you lay God and your salvation to heart. 

Grant that all Thy faithful people 
May Thy truer temple be; 
Neither flesh, nor soul, nor spirit, 
Know another Lord than Thee; 
But to Thee once dedicated, 
Serve Thee everlastingly. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my 
cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me 
in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Ps. 16: 
5. 6. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. — 

But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight 

themselves in the abundance of peace. Ps. 37: 10. 11. 

Rich, happy and excellent is he who has found 
Jesus. A more beautiful lot can not be the portion of 
any soul ; a richer heritage can not be yours. All that 
the world esteems great, beautiful and rich, vanishes as 
shadows compared thereto, and passes away as smoke 
in the air. But the Lord remains an eternal inheritance 
to the faithful. He who possesses Him shall not be in 
need of any good thing, he is enriched in all good things 
(i Cor. i: 4. 5). Hastily does the happiness of the 
wicked pass away; but those whom they regard as mis- 
erable, because they do not put their trust in any visible 
thing but in that which is invisible ; the wretched who 
feel poor and sinful in themselves and who therefore 
trust in the riches of the grace of Christ alone, shall 
inherit the promised land, the rest of peace. Death 
can not rob them of their heritage ; on the contrary, 
it then becomes their eternal possession. Blessed is he 
who is not blinded by the seeming good things and 
imaginary joys of this world ; but who looks away from 



361 

it all and fixes the eye of faith upon the Lord and sees 
and finds everything in Him, so that he can say in 
truth, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and 
of my cup. He alone is sufficient for me." 

Thou, O Christ, art all I want; 
More than all in Thee I find; 
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, 
Heal the sick, and lead the blind. 
Just and holy is Thy name, 
I am all unrighteousness; 
Vile and full of sin I am, 
Thou art full of truth and grace. 



THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirg 
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may 
be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings 
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with 
the glory that shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8: 17. 18. 

If only the first is right, there shall be no lack of 
aught else. If you are a true child of God, begotten 
of God, endowed and sealed with His Spirit, led by 
His Spirit and filled with His love, obedient in a child- 
like manner to your Father, so that one can not dispute 
your traits as a child of God, so that the Spirit of God 
Himself bears witness to that effect, then you are an 
heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ ; then there is 
a glory awaiting you with which all the sufferings of 
this world can not be compared, of which one would 
not be worthy even though one suffered the pangs of 
all the martyrs and the agony of the condemned in 
hell ; a glory which one could not merit by any suffer- 
ing, not buy at any price, which God bestows upon His 
children only, who, with all their heart, believe on the 
Name of His Son, and who, by faith and love, become 
like unto His image. Comfort yourself with this if, 
as a child of God, you are persecuted and distressed, 
if the world hates you because you are not one of its 
children. Look out into that other world, when this 
world becomes too narrow for you ! The former belongs 
to you ; this one does not. Demand and expect therefore 



362 

nothing from the world except free passage to your native 
land. If your journey be made difficult for you, which- 
as a rule it is, take comfort in the fact that all that 
happens to you on your journey through this world, 
will but serve to enhance your glory beyond. 

My Father's house on high, 
Home of my soul, how near, 
At times to faith's foreseeing eye, 
Thy golden gates appear! 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; 
and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is 
their strength labor and sorrow: for it is soon cut off, and 
we flee away. — — — So teach us to number our days, 
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. 90: 10. °12. 

The home-coming is more desirable than the pilgrim- 
age; that is self-evident. Who would not rather go 
home than journey in a strange, unknown and danger- 
ous land ? It is not so with all men ; there are men 
enough who do not love home, who would rather roam 
about in the woods and wade in desert-sands than go 
home. Why are they so insane? Because they love 
darkness rather than light, licentiousness more than God ; 
they know that they have nothing good to expect at 
home. But can not all receive every good thing there? 
Yes ; but they will not come. Then there is nothing to 
be done for them. "He who will come unto God must 
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them 
that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11: 6). They spend 
their years "as a tale is told" (Ps. 90: 9). They 
flourish as the grass which is soon withered and dried 
up. Oh, that they would remember that they are to 
wither and to be cast away! Ye children of the king- 
dom, ye have become wise and have long since considered, 
not that you must, but that you may go home, that 
you have permission soon to depart from the body and 
to be at home with the Lord. ' You are happy because 
you love your home, because your hearts are even now 



363 

with Him, who beckons to you and says 4 Come over 
hither ! Here below you have nothing good except the 
grace of the Lord. Life to you is a burden that would 
be unbearable if love for the Lord did not ease it. Who 
does not willingly put down his burden? Who does 
not long for the evening's rest? 

O sweet and blessed country, 
The home of God's elect! 
O sweet and blessed, country, 
That eager hearts expect! 
Jesus, in mercy bring us 
To that dear land of rest; 
Who art with God the Father, 
And Spirit, ever blest. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he 
will turn and do you hurt. Josh. 34: 20. If thou forsake 
him, he will cast thee off for ever. 1 Chron. 28: 9. If his 
(David's) children forsake my law ■ — — — then will I 
visit their transgressions with the rod. Ps. 89: 30. 31. 
They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and 
hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no 
water. Jer. 2: 13. 17. 

He who clings to the Lord is one Spirit with Him ; 
he constantly enjoys everything that his Lord has. 
Shall he be able to find anything more anywhere else? 
Possession and enjoyment are not only what he desires; 
the Lord Himself is more to him than all He possesses, 
a thousand times more than all the heavens and all the 
worlds can give. But he who has learned to know the 
Lord and then forsakes Him, and turns from the foun- 
tain of living waters to hew out broken cisterns, that 
can hold no water, will not go unpunished ; God will 
first visit him with the profitable rod of chastisement, and 
if this does not cause him to come to himself and re- 
turn to his Savior, but he continue in his perversion, 
then the Lord will turn away from him, and do him 
"hurt," and cast him off for ever. He who has tasted how 
good the Lord is, and yet departs from Him and seeks 
salvation elsewhere, in strange gods, has nothing good 



364 

to expect; his last state will be worse than his first. 
God will chastise him more severely, and at last punish 
him harder than He will punish the blind world that 
knew not God. Abide, therefore, with the Lord who 
has redeemed you and called you to His heavenly king- 
dom. Why should you forsake Him? What have you 
to complain of in regard to Him ? What is it that He 
has not done right for you? Where will you find a 
better Lord ? The world, the flesh, and the devil are 
the three tyrants into whose hands you fall, if you de- 
part from Jesus. They give you false promises of a 
great many beautiful things, but they do not keep their 
word. They reward you with griefs and disease, dis- 
grace and misery, distress and death, judgment and 
hell. 

Now I have found the firm foundation, 
Where evermore my anchor grounds 
It lay there ere the world's creation, 
Where else, but in my Savior's wounds? 
Foundation, which unmoved shall stay, 
When earth and heaven pass away. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which 
also ye are called. Col. 3: 15. Cause me to hear thy lov- 
ing kindness in the morning: for in thee do I trust.. Teach 
me thy 'way, O Lord, axid lead me in a plain path, because 
of min6 enemies; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Ps. 27: 
11; 113: 8. 10. 

Nothing is so important to the Christian who loves 
the Savior, as in all things to find the will and the ways 
of the Lord ; he will not take a single step against that 
which pleases God. The approval of the Lord means 
everything to him ; that is the only motive of all his 
thoughts and deeds. As we are not always able to know 
the will and pleasure of God, such a loving heart prays 
without ceasing, that the Lord will teach it His ways and 
lead it in the plain path of His good pleasure — that it 
may be governed by Him and by His Spirit. Otherwise 
we are unable to preserve the peace of God, which makes 
us certain of His good pleasure, the pledge and seal of 



365 

His love. This peace departs from us or diminishes as 
soon as we leave that which His eternal and holy will 
prescribes for us. It is impossible that he can possess 
true peace who walks in his own ways and follows his 
own will. He deceives himself if he believes that he is 
enjoying the peace o*f God. The peace which does not 
emanate from God is certainly a false peace. Pray, 
therefore, pray without ceasing, that "the peace of God 
which passeth all understanding" may conquer in your 
hearts and keep you in Christ Jesus. If you have lost 
this peace, confess your sins and seek to regain posses- 
sion of it through repentance and believing prayer. 

Draw us to Thee; enlighten 
Our hearts to find Thy way, 
That else the tempests frighten, 
Or pleasures lure astray. 

THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou 
hast left thy first love. Rev. 2: 4. For we are made 
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our con- 
fidence stedfast unto the end. Heb. 3: 14. To him that 
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life. Rev. 2: 7. 

There is nothing more delightful than a new-born 
child of God who remains in his first love. But "he that 
shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." 
He to whom Christ imparts Himself is very ardent in 
love. If he does not hold fast the beginning of his con- 
fidence, the first love, which is the essence and nature 
of Christ, but allows it to be quenched by security or 
self-exaltation, then there is nothing more sad than 
such trees twice dead, such a ruined garden of God. 
Alas ! he who is in possession of the first love ought not 
for all the world to let himself be robbed of it. He 
ought rather to suffer everything and to dare every- 
thing in o$der to preserve this costly gem. He who 
perceives that it decreases, that it will be quenched, 
let him pray and struggle and seek to revive it and to 
regain possession of it — let him humbly draw near to 
the cross of Christ. The tree of the cross is the best 



3 66 

fuel for this fire, the right means by which to revive 
it and start , the flame when it comes near going 
out. Therefore, do not despair, dear soul, if you, have 
lost the first love.. Behold, the Savior does not cast you 
off on that account, but He presents the fact to you and 
says, ''Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen ; 
and repent, and do the first works" (Rev. 2: 5). Begin 
once more from the beginning. Do* now as you did in 
the beginning when you received the first love. He will 
mqet you in the same way. Let this be a matter of 
importance to you. If it is not, then the candlestick will 
be removed out of its place ; your light will be extin- 
guished, and you will become a child of darkness. But 
if you let the Savior inspire you with courage ; if you 
have an ear to hear; if you overcome your drowsiness 
and security, He will give you to eat from the tree of 
life. Here He will come to your aid with strengthen- 
ing food, and in heaven you shall be satisfied. 

In His name I stand acquitted 
While upon the earth I stay: 
What I have to Him committed 
He will keep until that day. 
Be His service my endeavor; 
I will leave my Jesus never. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 
Phil. 2: 5. Take my yoke upon you; and learn of me; for 
I am meek and lowly in heart. Mat. 11: 29. 

Can we call ourselves Christ's disciples and Him 
our Lord and Master, if we are unwilling to ''learn" of 
Him, to' have "the same mind" as He had? He does not 
demand that we shall learn of Him how to create a 
world, .to walk upon the sea, to raise the dead, to 
command the storm and the wind, but to be "meek and 
lowly in heart." If He demanded of us that we should 
imitate His works of omnipotence, we should have an 
excuse, although He has also said, "All things are pos- 
sible for those who believe ;" "faith as a mustard seed 
can remove mountains ;" "he who believes in me shall 



367 

do greater deeds than I do." Yet if we do not learn 
this, He will readily forgive us ; but meekness and low- 
liness of heart are essential. "Well," you say, "but this 
comes harder to our proud and impatient mind than 
removing mountains, stilling the storms of the sea or 
raising the dead." If you seek strength to do it in 
yourself, then you can not do the one thing more than 
the other ; but if you ask Him, you shall not be in need 
of any good thing. He who gives the commandment, 
gives the strength also. The meek and humble Jesus 
will Himself come to you and dwell in your heart, and if 
He dwells in you, — what is impossible for you to do? 
We cannot have His mind unless we have Him. On the 
other hand, he who possesses Christ, possesses His mind 
also. He who does not possess His mind, has never 
seen Him, nor has he known Him. 

Still to the lowly soul 

He doth Himself impart, 

And for His temple and His throne 

Chooseth the pure in heart. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

I am continually with thee. Ps. 73: 23. God forbid that 
we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. Josh. 24: 
16. Ah children that are corrupters! they have forsaken the 
Lord. Is. 1: 4. 

When Joshua had led the children of Israel into the 
promised land, holding the last public gathering, he said 
among other things to the people, "Now therefore fear 
the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth. And 
if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord choose you this 
day whom ye will serve : whether the gods which your 
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, 
or the god of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : 
but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 
And the people answered and said, "God forbid 
that we should forsake the Lord." Joshua pressed 
them still harder, saying, "Ye cannot serve the Lord, 
for He is an holy God." And as the people reiterated 



368 

their statement, he said, "Ye are witnesses against your- 
selves that ye have chosen you the Lord. — — Now 
therefore put away the strange gods which are among 
you, and incline your heart unto the Lord." Pause 
here, beloved, and meditate thoroughly upon this whole 
narrative (Josh. 24), and ask your heart if it be in- 
clined to the Lord, or if it clings to other gods beside 
the Lord. For this perverse people departed later nearly 
always from the Lord. A promise is soon given; but 
we must examine ourselves to see if we have the strength 
to keep it. We must not promise that which we are 
unable to perform. We must ask the Lord humbly and 
with constant zeal to draw our hearts to Himself, to 
keep it steadfastly with Himself, and to bestow upon 
us faithfulness and steadfastness to the end. Grand and 
beautiful is the declaration of Joshua that he, irrespective 
of what the people would do, freely and loudly con- 
fesses himself, together with his whole house, as being 
on the Lord's side. Thus steadfastly must your heart 
cling to the Lord whether one or no one share your 
mind, concur with you or not. Cling with your whole 
house to the Lord even though the whole world serve 
strange gods. 

Lord, be mine this prize to win: 

Guide me through a world of sin; 

Keep me by Thy saving grace; 

Give me at Thy side a place. 

Sun and Shield alike Thou art; 

Guide and guard my erring heart. 

Grace and glory flow from Thee; 

Shower, O shower them, Lord, on me! 



THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves; but rather give 
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I 
will repay, saith the Lord. Rom. 12: 19. Looking diligently 
lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of 
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be 

defiled. Heb. 12: 15. Be reconciled to thy brother. 

Agree with thine adversary quickly. Mat. 5: 24. 25. 

He who avenges himself upon his enemy or upon his 
offender, forestalls God and usurps God's rights. He 



369 

has reserved to Himself to recompense every evil and 
to save (Prov. 20: 22). Therefore give place unto the 
wrath and judgment of God, Paul means to say; God 
will judge and repay. But this is not enough for a 
loving mind : it desires reconciliation ; it desires to win 
the heart of the adversary. It will not itself harbor 
malice toward others, neither can it suffer anything in 
others which is against love and concord. It therefore 
seeks to destroy every bitter root of vengeance, ill-will, 
and hatred, not in its own heart only, but also in the 
hearts of others. The Christian readily offers his hand 
once more ; he does not give up until the other party 
holds out his hand and they once more hand in hand 
worship and love Him who stretches forth His hands 
all day to His enemies, who allowed His hands to be 
pierced for us all and has graven us all upon the palms 
of His hands. Look into the pierced hand of Jesus ; 
therein you and your enemy are graven ; His hand up- 
holds you both ; for He upholds all things by the word 
of His power. Should you then desire to be discordant 
when the one and same hand is stretched down to you 
from heaven in order to save you ; a hand which some 
day shall wipe away all tears from our eyes and lift 
us all up to heaven? 

Harbor no hatred nor ill will, 
Lest hate breed anger, and thou kill; 
Be patient and of gentle mood, 
And to thine enemy do good. 

MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Trust in the Lord and do good, — — — and he shall 
bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment 
as the noonday. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and 
he shall exalt thee; and the Lord shall keep the righteous, 
and deliver them. Ps. 37: 3. 

He who trusts in the Lord shall not be ashamed. 
In this song godly men of all times have joined, and it 
has never yet been found to be false. You would be 
the first pious man to be forsaken by God, and to make 
His word a lie. Only cling to Him, and you shall stand 



37o 

as long as He stands. You will not fall unless He falls. 
But you do not expect that that will happen ; you do ex- 
pect succor, comfort and deliverance. That which God 
'has promised will surely come sometime; it can not 
forever fail. Everything shall come to an end; hence, 
also, your distress, your misery, and your complaint. 
God only and His help, His comfort, never ends, but 
remains forever. Love never fails. "I have seen an end 
of all perfection: but Thy commandment is exceeding 
broad," says David (Ps. 119: 96). "I waited patiently 
for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my 
cry" (Ps. 40: 1). This you also' shall confess concern- 
ing the Lord, if you wait unto the end. Nothing under 
.the sun shall remain as it is; everything changes. The 
heavens and the earth shall wax old as a garment; but 
the Lord your God is unchangeable, and shall remain the 
same forever (Heb. 1: 11). If your sky be ever so 
clouded, it shall become clear ?gain when the storm 
is past. "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and 

He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on 

the Lord, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land" 
(Ps. 27: 14; 37: 34). 

Lord Jesus, my Salvation, 

My Love and Life divine, 

My only Consolation, 

To Thee I all resign; 

For Thou hast dearly bought me 

With blood and bitter pain, 

Let me, since Thou hast sought me, 

Eternal Life obtain. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is 

good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness aiid 

live. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon 
him while he is near. Is. 55: 2-6. And thou shalt be like a 
watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters 
fail not. Is. 58: 11. 

The Lord calls the whole world, and the whole world 
stops its ears. He cries outwardly and He cries in- 
wardly; always and everywhere He finds deaf .ears. 



37* 

He does not call in order to judge and punish. He cries,. 
"Eat that which is good, which I have prepared tor 
you." Men as a rule readily come when they are invited 
and called to eat. Only "that which is good," which 
the Lord gives for nothing to all who hunger for it, 
men care not for ; neither will they have it. Listen, dear 
soul, listen how sadly He calls you and in your heart 
offers you His good things. Go in to Him ; He gives 
you a food by which your soul will grow and live 
forever. He promises much, but He gives a great deal 
more. Elsewhere you find, no matter where you go, 
scanty food for your poor soul, a food by which it can 
not be strengthened nor live. It is singular that the 
Lord does not invite us to prepare, but only to eat "that 
which is good." He has prepared it for us. Who is 
not fond of good food? Thus easy does the Savior 
make it for us. He has prepared everything for our 
enjoyment. It is even now ready and put on the table 
without costing us anything : only take and eat it ! And 
this we will not do? The same is also said in the parable 
of the calling of the guests to the wedding feast (Mat. 
22: 4). He caused them to be invited, saying to them, 
"All things are now ready ;" but they would not come. 
This blessed table is spread and fully prepared in your 
heart if you enter hungry, you shall be fed and 
live. Oh ! that your soul may become hungry for this 
excellent food which strengthens heart, soul and body. 
Such food the Savior has prepared. Oh, that you may 
come to Him every day and eat your fill in Him ! How 
you should live, and be blessed ! . 

Our Shepherd to His ransomed flock 
No needful gift denies, 
He leads us to the opened rock, 
And manna still supplies. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: 
and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be 
magnified. Ps. 70: 4. And your heart shall live that seek 
God. Ps. 69: 32. 



372 

What promises have not all who seek the Lord, who 
put their trust in Him only! Surrender your hearts 
wholly and unconditionally, all of you, to the Lord. 
How He would fill them with joy and blessedness ! Who 
should be glad and magnify God if not they who have 
God with them — they in whom Christ lives? Who 
should have God with them, Christ dwelling in them, 
if not they who seek Him and love Him? His heart 
inclines at once to every heart that inclines to Him. 
O ye hearts ! what do ye seek beside Him, the Friend 
of the heart? Your heart can not live, not be blest, if 
you do not seek Him and turn with the whole heart 
to Him. Know you not that everywhere else you find 
nothing but heart-sorrow? Peace and rest for the heart 
you find in Him alone, who has created your heart and 
is both willing and able to regenerate it. His kingdom 
is a kingdom of the heart. He willingly enters into the 
hearts and blesses them. That is His delight. If you 
have Him in the heart, you have a fountain of joy with- 
in which is inexhaustible. Then what can cause you 
sorrow ? What a heaven such a heart is ! What a 
heaven of heavens when several such hearts meet 
who have the Lord within ! Who shall be able to destroy 
their joy? On the other hand, how they will be 
affrighted and fall, who> do not possess Him and seek 
Him ! Forever blest is the soul in whom God and Jesus 
dwell. Blessed, glorious as heaven, is every heart which 
is in Christ. Wretched, and miserable, and poor, on the 
other hand, is every soul who lives without God, with- 
out Jesus, and without grace. 

Dear Savior, draw reluctant hearts; 
To Thee let sinners fly, 
And take the bliss Thy love imparts, 
And drink and never die. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Commit thy way unto the Lord; • and he shall 

bring it to pass. Ps. 37: 5. And we know that all things 
work together for good to them that love God, to them who 
are called according to his purpose. Rom. 8: 28. 



373 

No affliction, misfortune or misery can hurt you ; 
nothing can cause you harm, if you love God. When 
your distress has reached its utmost limit ; when you 
lie in the deepest abyss of misery, conceive it to 
be still worse ; even then believe, as surely as you 
confess an almighty and good God and Savior, that 
He can help and rescue and cause it all to turn 
out for the best. No distress can be too great for 
God; no evil can be so bad that God should not be able 
and willing to turn it to good. In a heart that loves 
and trusts God, the first thought in all need and trouble 
is, God will cause it all to turn out for the best. If you 
can no longer hope and believe this, then your faith has 
suffered shipwreck. Make haste to come to the Bible 
and to prayer and find a plank upon which you can 
still save yourself and swim to the land of rest and of 
confidence. The Lord will again establish your faith, 
and He will undoubtedly also cause this to turn out 
for the best. The burden you commit to Him will be 
lifted, and that in such a way that.it shall cause you 
wonder. On the other hand, if you yourself try to turn 
it to good, or take refuge in men, trusting in them, 
the end will be worse than the beginning. You 
will become so confused and entangled that you can no 
more find a way out. But if you lay hold of the hand 
of the Lord which can do all things and ever offers itself 
to you, it shall lift you up above all mountains and 
shall put this psalm of praise in your mouth, "The Lord 
is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working." 

The Lord is just, a Helper tried, 

Mercy is ever at His side; 

His kingly crown is holiness, 

His sceptre, pity in distress, 

The end of all our woe He brings; 

Wherefore the earth is glad and sings: 

We praise Thee, Savior, now, 

Mighty, indeed, art Thou. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be 
quenched. Is. 66: 24. And the smoke of their torment 



374 

ascended up for ever and ever. Rev. 14: 11. And they shall 
be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Rev. 20: 10. 
To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 2 Pet. 
2: 17. 

This is not written in the Bible in vain. If it does 
not concern you, it may concern your brother or neigh- 
bor. If you have no cause to fear eternity, and if you 
do not find it necessary at the thought of eternity to 
arouse yourself out of sleep and to preserve yourself 
from the enticements of sin, then remember that thou- 
sands of your brethren blindly and incessantly rush 
toward the terror- of eternity, toward the fire that shall 
not be quenched. As you consider these words of Jesus, 
instead of sentimentally shortening eternity, as many 
would do, and letting the fire be quenched, at any rate 
after a number of years, and letting the worm that 
Jesus has made everlasting, die sooner, in order thereby 
sweetly to console yourself and your brethren, — instead 
of doing this, I say, rouse yourself to prayer and sup- 
plication for yourself and your brethren, that God may 
move, turn, enlighten and save you and them, that you 
may not enter into torment ; for the torment may, nev- 
ertheless, be of too -long duration, seeing that Abraham 
said to Dives that there was no way and no door opening 
from beneath up and that none could leap across the 
"great gulf fixed." Pray, I repeat, pray, and do all in 
your power to save yourself and your brethren from 
destruction. It is better not to fall into this "fire" and not 
to come near this "worm," even if it were true, as some 
think, that eternity is not eternal, that the unquenchable 
fire is quenchable and that the everlasting worm is not 
everlasting, that Jesus and His disciples have not ex- 
pressed themselves accurately according to the senti- 
mental taste of our times. Better, I say, is better. Save 
yourself and your neighbor before the fire begins to burn 
and the smoke to ascend. 

But sinners, filled with guilty fears, 

Behold His wrath prevailing, 

For they shall rise, and find their tears 

And sighs are unavailing; 

The day of grace is past and gone; 

Trembling they stand hefore the throne, 

All unprepared to meet Him. 



375 

SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

The righteous shall go away into life eternal. Mat. 25: 
46. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory. 2 Cor. 4: 17. We rejoice in hope of the glory of 
God. Rom. 5: 2. God will render to every maxi according 
to his deeds: to them who, by patient continuance in well 
doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal 
life. Rom. 2: 6. 7. 

As "eternity" is a word of terror to the unbelieving and 
ungodly, the lukewarm and faithless, so it is a word of 
joy to the godly, righteous and pardoned, as long as they 
remain in grace . and preserve the gems of faith, love 
and patience. When the love of your Savior, the eter- 
nal joy and crown which He has prepared for you 
yonder, are so attractive to you that because of these 
you forget sin, the world and yourself, then you need 
not think of judgment and hell, eternal punishment and 
torment. Rejoice in the glory of the children of God. 
Live in heaven, to which you are called. Let your heart 
always be filled with the joy which the Lord even here 
bestows upon His own as a foretaste. If this, however, 
will not work upon your heart, if it should make you 
drowsy and secure, then let the thought of the opposite, 
the unhappy eternal state, of the loss of the presence of 
God, which shall be the lot of all who are unfaithful, 
secure and lukewarm, arouse you and renew your delight 
in an earnest consideration of heaven and the blessed 
eternal estate. But if heaven be in your heart, none can 
frighten you with hell. If hell be in your heart, then 
hasten out of it while there is yet time and seek in Christ, 
the Redeemer from death and hell, grace and pardon 
and a living hope of heirship and sonship of God, that 
you may rejoice when you think of eternity. For he who 
thinks to help himself by banishing all thoughts of eter- 
nity, and who will not think of the blessed eternal state 
nor of the unhappy eternal state, is, indeed, not much 
helped thereby. By forgetting eternity you can neither 
quench hell nor win heaven. Eternity remains eternity, 
and you must enter into it whether you want to think 
of it or not. 



37$ 

The day is surely drawing near, 

When God's Son, the Anointed, 

Shall with great majesty appear, 

As Judge of all appointed. 

All mirth and laughter then shall cease, 

When raging flames on flames increase, 

As the apostle teacheth. 



THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 

Put not your trust m princes, nor In the son of man, 
in whom there is no help. Happy is he that hath the God 
of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 
which made heaven, and earth, and all that therein is; 
which keepeth truth for ever, which executeth judgment for 
the oppressed. Ps. 146: 3-7; 118: 8. 9. 

Let "the God of Jacob" be your God. If Jacob's 
faith he your faith, then Jacob's God is your God also. 
Consider the whole history of Jacob, how his faith and 
confidence in God everywhere delivered him, blessed 
him, comforted and upheld him. The God of Jacob, 
who has a ladder that reaches from heaven to earth and 
from earth to heaven, by which God is accessible to us, 
by which He is most closely united with us so that our 
prayers ascend upon it, and His help descends upon 
it ; — Jacob's God who is everywhere near and present, 
wherever you call upon Him, so that even in the desert 
and night of affliction, wherever you are, even though 
forsaken and rejected of men, standing alone in the great 
wide world, you can find the gate of heaven and the 
house of God ; — Jacob's God, who allows Himself to be 
overcome by believing struggle and prayer and never 
sends you away without His blessing, — this God who is 
able to shield you against your persecutor Esau and to 
make him obliging and kind to you, — let Him be your 
God in whom you trust. But do not make men, no 
matter what name they may have, your gods and help- 
ers ; for they cannot, nor will they, help you. God may 
help through them, but the glory remains His. He de- 
serves all our confidence. To Him our prayer also must 
be directed. Ought you not to feel ashamed that God, 
who has created heaven and earth and everything else, 
is not regarded by you as sufficiently powerful, — 



377 

ashamed that you doubt Him as if He could not help 
you? "With God nothing is impossible." His prom- 
ises never fail. Can you mention any instance in which 
He has not promised certain help to those who trust in 
Him? 

O Thou from whom all blessings flow, 

Thy peace and comfort now bestow; 

Abide with us till life is o'er 

And make us Thine forevermore. 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto 
you, will seek to enter \n, and shall not be able. Luke 13: 
24. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall en- 
ter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will 
of my Father. Mat. f : 21; 13: 14. 

These are the Lord's own words which He spoke to 
His disciples when they asked Him if there be few who 
are saved. He admonished them to desire and to strive 
earnestly to be saved. What would He answer if you 
asked Him, Lord, shall I be saved? Here you read His 
answer. This is said to you and not to Peter and John 
only. To you, to you, the Lord says, Strive earnestly! 
For there are many who think that they have heaven in 
their bosom who shall yet never see it. "They seek to en- 
ter in," the Lord says, "and shall not be able." Why? 
Because they do not seek in the right way. But you 
say, This is terrible. May it terrify you to your own sal- 
vation ! The Lord says it that you should not make light 
of heaven and play with it. You believe in Christ ; he who 
believes in Him shall be saved. But is your faith such 
that it leads you in the narrow way and through the 
strait gate, sets you free from the world, from the 
lusts, and from sin, and prompts you to strive for- 
ward and upward? Many seek to enter in; but they 
seek to enter in by ways of their own, and through gates 
chosen by themselves, not in the narrow way shown by 
the Lord, and not through the gate mentioned by Him. 
that is "strait" and that brushes off everything that 
clings to them : the world and sin, yea, even one's own 



378 

self. Or men seek heaven with much trouble and exer- 
tion, but in their own strength, not in living faith in 
Christ, not in fellowship with Him, not with the heart, 
but with the head. Or, they take too much with them on 
the way ; they load themselves down with temporal things 
so that, pressed down by the burden, they are unable to 
raise themselves up to the heavenly things. For this rea- 
son they are not able to reach heaven. Jesus is the way 
and the gate; he who walks in Him and strives by His 
help, shall enter in and find, pasture. 

Lead us all our days and years 
In Thy straight and narrow way; 
Lead us through this vale of tears 
To the land of perfcet day, 
Where Thy people, fully blest, 
Near Thy throne forever rest. 



TUESDAY AFTEF? THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am 
known of mine. John 10: 14. It is he that hath made us, 
and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of 
his pasture. Ps. 100: 3. I have gone astray like a lost 
sheep: seek thy servant. Ps. 119: 176. 

The blessed fellowship that exists between Christ and 
His sheep is something for which the sheep have to 
thank Him alone. "All we like sheep have gone astray" 
(Is. 53: 6; 1 Pet. 2: 25). He has sought us and led 
us to Himself. But are we all truly with Him? Do we 
know Him as our Shepherd, who has given His life for 
us, and bestowed upon us life eternal? Is it for that 
reason that we hear His voice? Do we follow His beck- 
oning, and walk in His pasture? It is, perhaps, often 
necessary that He set the dogs at us and thereby drive 
us together so that we are compelled to flee to Him and 
seek salvation beneath His shepherd-staff. If we remain 
in Him, and allow His rod and His staff to govern us, 
He has no use for the dogs. It is very beautiful to see 
of what good use the dogs are to a flock of sheep that 
have scattered and gone far away from the fold: when 
they hear the barking of the dogs, they run together 



379 

quick as a flash, and hasten to the shepherd. The dogs 
dare not harm any one of the sheep — the shepherd 'does 
not allow that ; their barking only seems to drive the 
sheep to the shepherd and the fold. If the sheep be 
good, and remain with the Lord in the good pastures, 
the dogs have nothing to do, and the Shepherd does not 
need them ; He keeps them off so that they do not disturb 
the sheep. Oftentimes a sheep strays from the flock and 
loses sight of the Shepherd altogether ; but when it longs 
for home and cries, Lord, I am a stray and a lost sheep : 
seek Thy servant ! the Lord wil not hesitate. He has 
the welfare of each individual sheep at heart. He will 
soon hear the voice of the crying sheep. He calls the 
lost ones by day and by night. How He must rejoice 
when someone cries to Him and longs to come back to 
Him! 

Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, 

Much we need Thy tend'rest care; 

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, 

For our use Thy folds prepare; 

Blessed Jesus, 

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. 
Is. 28: 29. All his works are truth, and his ways judg- 
ment. Dan. 4: 37. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary. 

Ps. 77: 13. 

The Lord often leads His children in such narrow 
ways that they say also, "The bed is shorter than that a 
man can stretch himself on it : and the covering than that 
he can wrap himself in it" (Is. 28: 20). Every moment 
it seems to them that they are unable to endure ; but they 
do endure, nevertheless ; for His invisible hand holds 
them. He also knows the right time and the right meas- 
ure. He knows when to lead them into affliction and 
when to lead them out of it, how far He may go, and 
how much He dare lay upon them. For "the fitches 
are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is 
a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin ; but the 



3 8o 

fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with 
a rod. Bread corn is bruised ; because he will not ever 
be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, 
nor bruise it with his horsemen" (Is. 28: 27. 28). In 
this manner the Lord deals with His loved ones. If He 
seem to deal harshly with them, yet it is not too harshly ; 
that which is necessary can not be remitted. Without 
beating it is impossible to separate the wheat from the 
chaff. What human hand beats so heavily that it crushes 
the wheat ? Shall that be done by the hand of the Lord ? 
No ; He only separates the gold from the slag. He 
is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working," so 
that one at length must give Him the testimony, "All His 
works are truth; all His ways are judgment," and not 
only judgment, but they are also "in the sanctuary." One 
must worship and rejoice. While we do not wish their 
return, yet we give forever thanks for the ordeals we 
have gone through. We only lament that we did not 
sooner appreciate them, and conduct ourselves more qui- 
etly while they lasted. 

Our souls — on Thee we cast them, 
Our only refuge Thou! 
Thy cheering words revive us, 
When pressed with grief we bow: 
Thou bear'st the trusting spirit 
Upon Thy loving breast, 
And givest all Thy ransomed 
A sweet, unending rest. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done 
the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Heb. 10: 36. 
In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21: 19. Let us 
run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb. 12: 1. 

"Patience" has been much recommended by the Savior. 
He has made patience an indispensable condition of sal- 
vation. We can not possess our souls and obtain sal- 
vation except by patience. Just as earnestly does Paul 
emphasize the necessity of patience. He declares that 
we cannot receive the promises of Goo 1 , not do the will 



3«i 

of God, without patience. He represents it to Timothy 
as an object he should follow after (i Tim. 6: n). 
He admonishes Titus to tell the aged men that they 
were to be just as sound in patience as in faith (Tit. 2: 
2). He whose patience is ailing, is certainly not sound 
in faith. Paul says to the Corinthians that our salvation 
is revealed in that we suffer patiently. He says, "In 
all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God 
in much patience" (2 Cor. 1: 6; 6: 4). But pa- 
tience is especially necessary in the hour when persecu- 
tion and temptation come upon the believers. Then 
no power avails ; then nothing avails but the patience 
and the faith of the saints (Rev. 13: 10). This virtue, 
which above all others is necessary, beautiful, rare, 
difficult, strong and noble — where do we find it? 
Where we find all : at the cross of Jesus. He who has 
learned to dwell with the most patient and holy of cross- 
bearers, who looks intently into His patient and loving 
heart, learns and receives of the Lamb the nature of a 
lamb. 

When worn with pain, disease, and grief, 

This feeble body see; 

Grant patience, rest, and kind relief; 

Good Lord, remember me. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Abraham against hope believed in hope — — — being 
not weak in faith. Rom. 4: 18. 19. In returning and rest 
shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be 
your strength. Is. 30: 15. Trust in him at all times; ye 
people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for 
us. Ps. 62: 8. 

The divine hope, born of a living faith, abides by 
what it does not see, as if it did see. Hope knows 
through faith that God calls forth things that are not as 
if they were. Hope knows that it does not cost God 
any more to make something out of nothing than to 
make that which is something into nothing. Hope 
builds, however, on the promises of God and not on 
imagination. God keeps His word, most assuredly, and 



382 

this Word is the foundation and cornerstone upon which 
hope rests, and which does not make it ashamed. He who 
does not hope that which God has promised, makes God 
a liar, does not trust in Him who is the most trust- 
worthy of all, and is in doubt as to -whether Truth itself 
has not lied. What a terrible thought to doubt whether 
God is truthful or His Word a lie. Away from your 
soul with this child of hell ! Banish it and do not harbor 
it one moment longer in your heart; for it is Satan, the 
same old serpent that said to your mother Eve, Yea, hath 
God said ? ( Gen. 3 : 1 ) . No, turn quickly away from 
this wicked doubt; go into your chamber; make your 
need known to the Lord ; pour out your heart before 
Him ; let it become quiet and strong in Him. By wait- 
ing quietly before His face your faith and hope will be 
revived and established, so that you may tread upon the 
serpent's head, and stand on a rock, quietly waiting for 
the fulfillment of all that God has promised. Let it out- 
wardly be ever so dark ; let it storm as much as it 
please, it shall yet clear up again. 

In midst of dangers, fears and death, 
Thy goodness I'll adore; 
And praise Thee for Thy mercies past, 
And humbly hope for more. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

I bow my knees — that he would grant you 

to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the mner 

man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith 

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by 
the faith m him. Eph. 3: 14. 16. 17. 12. 

When Christ dwells in the heart, it may freely and 
confidently draw near to God. He who possesses the 
Son, has the Father also. But he who drives the Son 
awav from his heart, — how can he come unto the Fa- 
ther? There is no other way leading to Him, saith the 
Son, than through me. He who will not go that way, 
does not get through. Oh, why will you not possess 
Him, ye children of men, notwithstanding you may re- 
ceive Him so easily? Do not say, Are we to ascend up 



3»3 

to heaven to bring Christ down? Are we to 

No, nothing, nothing of all that you may say, object, 
or do. Ye sinners are to return to yourselves, to your 
own hearts. "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, 
and in thy heart" (Rom. 10: 8). He is even now wait- 
ing for you there. "The Lord is nigh unto all those 
who call upon Him in truth." It is unpardonable and 
indefensible to let Him, Him, wait, to turn one's back on 
Him ; to close the heart to Him who has created and 
redeemed it (Rev. 3: 20). What can make your heart 
more happy than He if you only surrender it to Him ? 
Oh, bow your knees with St. Paul, that your inner man 
may be strengthened by His Spirit to receive Christ and 
by faith to let Him take up His abode in you ! Through 
Christ, heaven is opened to you in life and in death. 
Through Him you have free access to all the treasures 
of God. Through Him you become enriched in all 
things. Through Him all things are bestowed upon you. 
Oh, that Jesus may not have to say in regard to you 
also, "How often would I have come and taken up my 
abode in your heart, and you would not!" 

May faith, deep rooted in the soul, 
The flesh subdue, the mind control: 
May guile depart, and discord cease, 
And all within be joy and peace. 






THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY- 

Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him. Jer. 
22: 10. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
him. 1 Thes. 4: 14. He shall enter into peace: they shall 
rest, in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 
Is. 57: 2. 

That which the Savior said to the weeping daughters 
of Jerusalem : "Weep not for me, but weep for your- 
selves and for your children," every lamented and 
departed person, who, saved through faith, has stepped 
across the boundaries of time, may say to those who 
weep for him.*) For who is more to be bemoaned 

* Those who have not died in the Lord, are surely to be 
lamented and bemoaned. 



3§4 

those who still voyage on the dangerous ocean, tossed 
about by storm and billows, or those who have already 
safely reached the haven of eternal rest, the better land? 
They who have died in the Lord, are to be envied ; for 
they have obtained and received that for which we are 
still waiting amid dangers. Therefore, a Christian loves 
to linger in God's acre. The stillness in which the de- 
parted brethren rest, raises the mind above the grave 
and above time to the blessed and quiet eternity where all 
wars of passion, all unrest that disturbs the peace of 
God, are at an end. Beloved, do not pass a graveyard 
without visiting your departed brethren. At their sleep- 
ing-chambers give yourself up to the thoughts that 
crowd upon you. If you feel that you must weep, then 
weep; yet not for them, but for yourself and your 
brethren who are still on the pilgrimage. Look with 
longing for the blessed ones who have reached home. 
Stretch out your hands for the invisible. Lay hold of 
the eternal life which hovers above the grave and receive 
in your heart as much as you can make room for. One 
sees the dawn of morning on the grave and perceives the 
air of spring — and that is said to be very healthful. 

Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest, 
Whose waking is supremely blest: 
No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour 
That manifests the Savior's power. 

Asleep in Jesus! O, for me 

May such a blissful refuge be! 

Securely shall my ashes lie, 

And wait the summons from on high. 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the 
humble. Ps. 10: 12. He forgetteth not the cry of the 
humble. Ps. 9: 12. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be 
not far from me. Ps. 38: 21. For the Lord will not cast 
off his people. Ps. 94: 14. For the Lord will not cast off 
for ever. Lam. 3: 31. 

Answers to these prayers, and promises concerning 
them are found in plenty in the word of God. Even 



3% 

if there were no other answers than those found 
in Is. 49: 15, and in John 6: 37, these would be 
sufficient to comfort all that are downcast and sad, all 
that are in fear and doubt. Grasp them in faith and 
have the confidence in the good God that He does not 
lie, that He does not mock the afflicted, but inviolably 
keeps what He has promised in His word. If we only 
pray thus and continue in these child-like and earnest 
petitions and remember His fatherly heart, we shall never 
lack an enswer. What can surpass the faithfulness, 
tender love and devotion of our Bridegroom? What 
ought we not expect from Him? Oh, we of little 
faith ! If we were really established in His word, we 
should stand more firmly than the mountains ; we should 
never be moved. Heaven and earth shall collapse and 
perish, but His word and faithfulness never collapse and 
never perish. God has written to you with the blood of 
His Son, on the cross of Golgotha. Go there. What do 
you read? When you can neither read nor believe an- 
other word, there you shall read and believe the hand- 
writing of God the Father in the wounds and blood of 
His Son. For more legibly, powerfully, convincingly, 
and vividly no writer can write nor speaker speak. 
There it is written in large letters, "I do not forget you ; 
I do not forsake you ; I do not cast you off." 

Jesus, my Strength, my Hope, 
On Thee I cast my care; 
With humble confidence look up, 
And know Thou hear'st my prayer. 
Give me on Thee to wait, 
Till i can all things do; 
On Thee, almighty to create, 
Almighty to renew. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe 
my ways. Prov. 23: 26. Sanctify the Lord God in your 
hearts. 1 Pet. 3: 15. Blessed are the pure in heart: for 
they shall see God. Mat. 5: 8. Out of the abundance of the 
heart the mouth speaketh, Mat. 12: 34. 



3 86 

To give one's heart to God means to preserve one's 
heart pure from everything which is not God ; to cling 
with one's heart to naught but God and Christ ; to have 
the same will as God ; to delight in everything in which 
God is well pleased, and to shun everything that dis- 
pleases God. He who is ever filled with God, filled with 
love to Christ; who in all things is led and constrained 
by love to Jesus only, Avho does not ask, What will the 
world say about it? but who asks, What does my Be- 
loved wish? What does the God of my heart delight 
in? What is His good pleasure? How am I best to 
find the will of God? he sanctifies God in his heart. He 
who does not permit himself the slightest unrighteous- 
ness, not even things permissible, though he gain the 
whole world thereby, because he knows that God, 
Christ, does not wish it, or is unwilling that it shall 
be done, has given, and sanctified his heart to God : his 
heart is pure ; such a heart sees God. He whose heart 
is filled with love to God, can not with his lips give 
utterance to anything which is not of God. The mouth 
is the betrayer of the heart. But it is also often a 
deceiver and a liar ; for in the hyporcrits it can speak of 
God and of love to Christ, while God and love to Christ 
are not in the heart. Yet not always. The mouth 
betrays at times that which dwells in the heart, because 
the mouth of those who are not on right terms with 
God in their heart, is changeable and does not always 
say the same thing. 

Lord, in ceaseless contemplation 
Fix my thankful heart on Thee, 
Till I taste Thy full salvation, 
And Thine unveiled glory see. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



Lord,- to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eter- 
nal life. John 6: 68. We have also a more sure word of 
prophecy: whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto 
a light that shlneth In a dark place, until the day dawn, 
and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Pet. I: 19. 



3«7 

All men who have not God's word or who believe 
not in the Lord Jesus, are in deepest darkness and 
blindness, without true consolation in life and death. 
They are miserable and unhappy even though they do 
not feel their misery. All who have learned to know 
Jesus and His living word, know this. They did not 
know before how miserable they were ; but having 
tasted the blessedness to be found in Jesus, they know 
it. Precious and invaluable the word of the Lord be- 
comes to us only when the day of awakening and repent- 
ance breaks forth, when the Day Star, Christ, the living 
God, the true Light, arises in our hearts. Then one 
sees light in His light ; everything becomes light and 
clear, then everything becomes living. But what you 
have received you must also retain in your hearts, in 
a living memory so that nothing may again entice you 
away from Jesus. All kinds of temptations and trials 
come upon the believers. Yet when they remember 
Jesus Christ ; when they have tasted the powers of the 
world to come ; when they have learned to know the living 
word of God which has brought the soul from death 
unto life, from darkness unto light ; when they ever 
seek to preserve this light and life, they can sav in 
every temptation that would draw them away from 
Christ, as Peter said, "To whom shall we go? We 
will remain with Thee ; for Thou hast the words of 
eternal life." 

When our foes are near us, 
Then Thy word doth cheer us, — 
Word of consolation, 
Message of salvation. 

When the storms are o'er us, 
And dark clouds before us, 
Then its light directeth, 
And our way protecteth. 



THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that 
uphold my soul. Ps. 54: 4. I will abide in thy tabernacle 



3 88 

fop ever; I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Ps. 61: 4. 
For thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his 
name; and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel; the God 
of the whole earth shall he be called. Is. 54: 5. 

God has given Himself to us. "I will be their 
God ; and they shall be my people." Thus He often 
speaks in His word (Ex. 29: 45; Lev. 26: 12; Ezek. 
37: 2j). "I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I 
will betroth thee unto me- in righteousness" (Hos. 2: 
19. 20). Therefore it is written in Is. 54: 5: "Thy Mak- 
er is thy husband," He is thy betrothed, and thy spouse, 
who has interested Himself in thee as a man interests 
himself in a forsaken wife, who has given thee such 
rich gifts and who desires so completely to belong to 
thee that thou canst plead it and say to Him, Thou 
art my God. Thou must interest Thyself in me as a 
bridegroom interests himself in his bride. "I was cast 
upon Thee from the womb" (Ps. 22: 10). "By Thee 
I have been holden up from the womb" (Ps. 71: 6). 
"Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb" (Ps. 
x 39 : J 3)- Thus have they spoken to God who have 
trusted in Him. So must your faith also speak. God is 
your God; and all that which is His is yours also. His 
love has bestowed upon you all that He is. He exists for 
you as if He were your God alone, almighty, merci- 
ful, gracious and omnipresent for you alone. All that 
He is, and all that He can do, He has promised and 
sworn to you. You must either deny the existence of 
God or confess that He is your God, who never can 
forsake you, and never disown Himself ; for He is your 
Maker and your Husband. He has taken upon Himself 
and sworn to the obligation, "I will not fail thee, nor 
forsake thee" (Josh. 1: 5; Deut. 31: 6. 8). We can 
therefore cheerfully say, "In God have I put my trust: 
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me" (Ps. 56: 5. 
12; Heb. 13 : 6). 

The bounties of Thy love 
Shall crown my following days; 
Nor from Thy house will I remove, 
Nor cease to speak Thy praise. 



3«9 

FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
Mat. 5: 16. Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost 
well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Jas. 2: 19. 
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith 
on the earth? Luke 18: 8. 

How much "faith" there is in the world ; but how 
little of the light of faith that shines and gives warmth ! 
Faith must be a light from God and heaven to bring- 
light into the darkness around it. Faith must prove its 
fire by works of righteousness. Faith must prove its 
power, its origin from God ; otherwise it is dead, cold 
glitter that only deceives and avails nothing, a faith of 
devils, only a bare admission of the truth. The devil 
can not deny that God exists ; yea, his faith in the exist- 
ence of God is so firm that he trembles before Him, 
which is more than some believers do. Therefore the 
devil can be said to Have a better faith than they have. 
But such a faith makes neither righteous, nor does it 
save. For if such a trembling faith availed anything, 
the devil would long ago have been righteous and 
saved. Here you see how little the apostle James values 
your faith of hypocrisy and of the mouth ; and yet 
men do not tremble. Even Jesus Himself lamented be- 
cause of the latter times and makes clearly known that 
at His coming He will find very little of true faith. 
Strive therefore, beloved, with all your might to be 
among the few in whom the Lord shall find faith. I 
wish for myself and for you the faith of the Romans 
at the time of Paul, which was "spoken of throughout 
the whole world" (Rom. i: 8). Examine your faith 
according to this ; for without true, living and active faith 
it is impossible to please God. 

may my name, dear Lord, be found 
Free from all condemnation, 

For Thy death's sake, Thy pains and wounds, 
In Thy book of salvation. 

1 will not doubt: — I trust in Thee; — 
From Satan Thou hast made me free, 
And from all condemnation. 



390 

SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of 
that which is good? 1 Pet. 3: 13. The Lord is my light and 
my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of 
my life; of whom shall I be afraid? For in the time of trou- 
ble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his 
tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 
Ps. 27: 1. 5. 

David had only one prayer to the Lord (Ps. 27), 
only one desire, and that was that he might "dwell in 
the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to behold 
the beauty pf the Lord, and to inquire in His temple." 
But David had only an outward sanctuary, the temple 
which was "made with hands"; and yet he perceived the 
Lord so powerfully there that lie feared nothing — yet 
he found cover and protection against all his enemies, 
did not fear either wars or armies that might rise against 
him and devour him. "They shall stumble," he says, 
"and fall ; for the Lord hides me in His pavilion ; in the 
secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me ; He shall set 
me up upon a ' rock, which they cannot scale." He 
sought, found and enjoyed in the outward sanctuary also 
the inner sanctuary, in the spirit, and this made him 
strong and blessed. What David accomplished and pos- 
sessed, a Christian must much more accomplish and 
possess. Thou house of the Lord, thou tabernacle of 
the Lord — art thou no longer to be found? True, the 
temple which David outwardly visited is long since 
destroyed ; but the sanctuary of which it was a type — 
the tabernacle of God among men of which it was a 
prophecy — exists and will continue to exist as long as 
there are hearts to be found that seek God in spirit and 
in truth. You can find and visit .the Lord Himself and 
not His tabernacle only. You can ever have Jesus with 
you and in you. "I am with you alway even unto the 
end of the world," is a word He has given you, and it 
is His custom to keep His word. Heaven and earth 
shall pass away, but not His word ; consequently, this 
word shall not pass away. If vou can say with David, 
"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek 



39i 

after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (in- 
wardly, in the Spirit with Him) all the days of my life, 
that He may constantly dwell in me, and I in Him, 
that nothing shall be able to separate us any more; I 
have laid hold of Him and will not let Him depart" — 
you may be just as fearless as David. Then you are 
just as well covered, hidden and protected from all 
danger as he ; then you stand upon a rock where no 
arm, no power, no disaster, and no storm can reach 
you. 

Man may trouble and distress me, 
'Twill but drive me to Thy breast; 
Life with trials hard may press me, 
Heaven wil bring me sweeter rest. 
Oh! 'tis not in grief to harm me, 
While Thy love is left to me; 
Oh! 'twere not in joy to charm me, 
Were that joy unmixed with Thee. 



THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 



Little children, it is the last time. 1 John 2: 18. For 
yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will 
not tarry. Heb. 10: 37. For yourselves know perfectly that 
the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 
Thes. 5: 2 

Thus the apostles think and speak of the coming 
of the Lord. They never considered themselves safe, 
but watched day and night and kept themselves ever 
ready to receive Him. If "the last time" commenced 
over eigtheen hundred years ago, how can much of it 
be left? Who can count on the fraction of a second? 
How, according to the admonition in 2 Pet. 3 : 1 1 — 
15, we ought to be diligent in holy conversation and 
godliness, to wait and long for the coming of the day of 
God ! How earnestly we ought to strive to be found 
blameless of Him if tie were to come to-morrow ! The 
Savior Himself warns us in Luke 21 : 34. 36. All this 
ought in our day to be well considered; for we are 
nearer to this "day," which will surely come, by eighteen 
hundred years, than the first Christians who even then 



392 

hoped to live that day, and daily prepared themselves 
for it. Alas! who knows how near the terrible judg- 
ments that are to precede that day, may be to us? No 
one believes it before it falls upon men as a "snare," and 
as "a thief in the night." Ye children of light, do not 
sleep ! Awake ! ye daughters and ye brides of the Lamb, 
the Bridegroom is at hand: He is at the door. We are 
not safe a single hour. He may swiftly and suddenly 
come upon us. Blessed is he who shall then be awake, 
who together with the bride shall long for His coming 
and meet Him with the shout, "Come, Lord Jesus !" 
Examine yourself daily to see if you will be able con- 
fidently to cry thus — if you will be able to stand in His 
presence. He has eyes like flames of fire, eyes that will 
detect and bring to light all dihoncsty and every unfaith- 
fulness, no matter how well hidden in the heart. Do 
not hesitate in clearing out of your hearts everything 
that is not pleasing to His eye. 

Lord Jesus Christ, do not delay, 

O hasten our salvation! 

We often tremble on our way, 

In fear of tribulation. 

Then hear us when we cry to Thee; 

Come mighty Judge, come, make us free 

From every evil. Amen! 



MONDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching 
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the 
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ 

Jesus. Phil. 3: 13. 14. I count all things but loss — 

that I may win Christ and be found in him. Phil. 3: 8. 9. 

You seek many things ; you strive to obtain every- 
thing. Yet, one thing you lack : a prize in which every- 
thing is contained. If you do not seek and find this, 
you will at last possess nothing, because you do not 
possess that without which everything is nothing. Do 
vou not know that no man, ''having put his hand to the| 
plough, and looking back," is fit for the kingdom of 
God ? Forward ! Before you lies the prize. Do not 



393 

look back for that which lies behind you. "Let every- 
thing lie and follow me," Jesus calls to you from above ; 
He urges upon you this one thing. Count everything that 
is called gain on earth but loss. There is only one gain. 
Christ gained, all is gained ; Christ lost, all is lost. 
How much still lies in your mind and in your de- 
sire ! He who presses forward to a given mark, has 
this mark only before his eye ; for as soon as he loses 
sight of this mark, he runs the risk of getting farther 
away from the mark instead of getting closer to it, 
or to get in upon by-ways, or to take steps that are in 
vain. Ours is a heavenly, a divine calling, and there- 
fore our mind, our effort, our whole existence and 
activity, ought also to be directed to heaven, to God, 
to Christ. Away, world ! away, sin ! away, honor and 
licentiousness ! away, everything, from my mind and 
heart ! Christ, be Thou alone my mark, my prize, for 
which I strive until I possess Thee wholly, and am 
wholly found in Thee. 

We wait for Thee; here Thou hast won 

Our hearts to hope and duty; 

But while our spirits feel Thee near, 

Our eyes would see Thy beauty; 

We fain would be at rest with Thee 

In peace and joy supernal, 

In glorious life eternal. 



TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; but 

let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth 
and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving- 
kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. Jer. 
9: 23. 24. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is with- 
in me, bless his holy name. Ps. 103: 1. 

Men as a rule use all that is in them for their own 
service. They use all the faculties and powers of body 
and soul for their own good, for their self-preserva- 
tion and advancement, for their own pleasure, glory, 
and interest ; they think that they can do nothing 
better. They are under the law of their members, the 
law of selfishness, and they keep strictly the command- 



394 

ment : Thou shalt love thyself with all thy heart, with all 
thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind. 
If this commandment were God's commandment, the 
world would be full of excellent saints and perfect Chris- 
tians. But it is not God's commandment. The com- 
mandment of God strikes at this self-exaltation, and at 
this self-worship and says, He who does not hate himself 
and love the Lord his God with all his heart, and with 
all his strength, is not a disciple of Christ. When the 
wise, intelligent and learned man glories in his wisdom, 
makes use of it for his own glory, and for his own 
gain only, he insults God and makes himself a god. 
When he who is strong and mighty glories in his might 
or, which is the same, uses it for himself only,- he opposes- 
God, drives Him from the throne in his heart, and 
places himself there. When he who is rich glories in 
his wealth, uses it for himself only, and regards all that 
he has as his own possession, and not as something 
which is entrusted to his stewardship, and for which he 
is to give an account to God, then he is his own god, 
and will at last receive the reward of mammon : he will 
perish together with his idols. He who would glory 
without becoming vain in his glory, let him glory in 
that he knows God, that he himself is nothing, and that 
God is all ; that he only exists for God and by God. 
Let everything within you and upon you praise the, 
Lord; let all that is within you seek to glorify the Lord 
only, of whom, by whom, and to whom all things are. 

O bless the Lord, my soul! 

Let all within me join, 

And aid my tongue to bless His name, 

Whose favors are divine. 



WEDNESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 

He that dwelleth in the secret places of the most High 
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say 
of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in 
him will I trust. Ps. 91: 1. 2. Blessed are all they that put 
their trust in him. Ps. 2: 12. For thou, Lord, art good, and 
ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that: 
call upon thee. Ps. 86: 5. 



395 

The Lord is "a cover" and "a shield," "a shadow" 
in the heat of tribulation. He relieves us from our wear- 
iness, and strengthens us when we seek refuge in His 
shadow. The fear of the human heart is the source of 
all afflictions. Unbelief is the mother of all anxiety 
and terror in afflictions. He who has God as his friend ; 
who believes in His protecting hand, which day and 
night is stretched forth to cover us, and without which 
not a hair of our head can be harmed ; who in faith 
grasps this hand — what shall he fear? We seek pro- 
tection in men ; yet they cannot protect us ; by their 
protection they will lessen our confidence in the protec- 
tion of the Lord ; at last they will leave us to our 
own devices. Therefore Jeremiah expresses himself so 
strongly (Chap. 17: 5), saying, "Cursed be the man 
that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and 
(mark it!) whose heart departeth from the Lord." He 
who thus explicitly trusts in the help of man and does 
not expect anything from God, does not believe that 
God helps through men, is cursed and shall not 
see when good cometh but be like a lonely tree in 
the desert. But "blessed is the man that trusteth in 
the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." He shall be 
as a tree planted by the waters : it spreadeth out its 
roots by the river, and shall not wither when heat 
cometh, but its leaf shall be green. Yea, truly, the 
confidence in the Lord is a tree which is always green, 
a tree that bears fruit in every season of the year, the 
fruitfulness of which no heat nor cold can destroy ; that 
defies all storms and dangers and remains when ev- 
erything else perishes. 

While I draw this fleeting breath, 
When my eye-lids close in death, 
When I rise to worlds unknown, 
And behold Thee on Thy throne, 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me! 
Let rrie hide myself in Thee. 



396 

THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even 

like Israel which thou redeemedst to thee? 2 Sam. 

7: 23. And what nation is there so great that hath statutes 
and judgments so righteous? Deut. 4: 8. He hath not 
dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they 
have not known them. Ps. 147: 20. 

Thus the Israelites praised themselves more fortu- 
nate than all the other people on earth. They were the 
most fortunate also, at least all the true children of 
Israel ; for they possessed divine privileges and had their 
God as close as they could have Him, according to 
God's dispensation in the old covenant. But soon it 
was said, "The people which shall be created shall praise 
the Lord" (Ps. 102: 19). "I will call them my people, 
which were not my people ; and her beloved, which was 
not beloved" (Hos. 2 : 23 ; Rom. 9: 24), that is, I will 
cast off the Jewish people and gather unto me a people 
from among the Gentiles. And concerning this people 
it is said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and 
I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 
Cor. 6: 16). "Thy people also shall be all righteous" 
(Is. 60: 21). After He had gathered this new people 
it was said, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest- 
hood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should 
shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out 
of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time 
past were not a people, but are now the people of God: 
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained 
mercy" (1 Pet. 2: 9. 10). With the glory of this new 
covenant, or of Christianity, nothing else can be com- 
pared. Only let us walk in it, as is becoming, and 
really taste the grace and the blessedness which a child 
of God may possess ! May this be your care and en- 
deavor ! Do not glory in what you are not nor in what 
you do not possess. One appropriates to himself so 
easily the beautiful, glorious words one reads in the 
Bible and thereupon forgets to seek to come into pos- 
session of the thing itself. Blessed, glorious, and great, 



397 

is he who is a true Christian, who really possesses and 
enjoys that which is promised to the Christian. 

Glorious things of Thee are spoken, 
Zion, city of our God; 
He whose Word can not be broken, 
Form'd thee for His own abode. 
On the Rock of Ages foundered, 
What can shake thy sure repose? 
With salvation's walls surrounded, 
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes. 



FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER 
TRINITY. 



Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know 
my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and 
lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139: 23. 24. Shew me 
thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Ps. 25: 4. Examine 
me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 
Ps. 26: 2. 

There is no deception we poor human beings are more 
subject to than self-deception. Alas! we deceive our- 
selves often in the most important matter of our salva- 
tion. The psalmist felt this deeply; otherwise the 139th 
psalm would hardly have been written. In this psalm 
we find the best guidance to self-examination. We 
seem to have the best intentions in regard to ourselves ; 
yet it is much wiser to seek the counsel of God and 
pray Him to "prove" our intention and to investigate how 
in reality we mean it Yea, he who earnestly desires his 
own salvation and is loth at last to see himself deceived 
by his own heart, should often present himself before the 
all-seeing eye of God and pray, O Lord, Thou knowest 
me better than I know myself; Thou knowest what 
dwells in my heart ; Thou lookest into the inner recesses 
of my heart into which my prejudiced eye does not 
penetrate : reveal unto me all that which is not pleasing 
to Thee ! One can not conceive of anything so terrible 
as a man deceiving himself; and yet it happens so often. 
Consider once in real earnestness what you do. Do not 
rely on yourself. Lay your heart open before God with 
earnest and ardent prayer that He may interest Him- 



398 

self in you, disclose all which is false and deceptive in 
you, all by-considerations and all deceptive manners, and 
that He may lead you in the way of truth and purity. 
No godly person must think himself excused from doing 
this ; for no one is free from deception unless he, through 
watchfulness and prayer, is made free therefrom by the 
Lord. 

Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways 

True absolution and release; 

And bless us more than in past days 

With purity and inward peace. 



SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY 
AFTER TRINITY. 



The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles 
of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. 
Ps. 118: 15. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smok- 
mg flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment 
unto victory. Mat. 12: 20. 

You have the enemy within ; you are your own worst 
enemy ; for in reality the enemy is unable to harm your 
soul, if you do not want him to do so, if you do not 
go over to him. Within you have also the Victor and 
Conqueror over all your enemies, who always takes 
your part when you take His part and keep to Him. 
Even though you have but a little strength, He has 
strength so much the greater. He strikes everything to 
the ground. If you are weak, He is sufficiently strong 
to overcome all things. "I am in them," He says. Who 
would think of overcoming those in whom He dwells? 
"Through Him we are more than conquerors," says 
Paul (Rom. 8: 37). It makes no difference to Him 
'whether He fight with many or with few, in one who 
is weak or in one who is strong. He can give victory 
without any multitude of forces. If your strength be 
only a little strength, only as "smoking flax," only as 
"a bruised reed," He shall yet turn your judgment to 
victory, and remain victorious in you if you only abide 
in Him and trust in Him. Only let the gates and the 
doors of your heart lift up their "heads," that the 
'King of glory may enter in. "Who is this King of 



399 

glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty 
in battle" (Ps. 24: 7. 8). Without Him you must not 
enter into combat with any enemy. But through Him 
we shall do valiantly : for He it is that shall "tread down 
our enemies" (Ps. 108: 13). His right hand does power- 
ful works ; when we place ourselves, body and soul, in 
His right hand, then shall we sing with joyful voice of 
victory in the tabernacles of the righteous. 

The word they still shall let remain — 
No thanks shall they have for it. 
He's by our side upon the plain, 
With His good gifts and Spirit, 
Take they then our life, 
Goods, fame, child and wife. 
When their worst is done, 
They yet have nothing won, 
The kingdom ours remaineth. 



THE TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 



But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow 
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meek- 
ness. 1 Tim. 6: 11. Hold fast the form of sound words, 
which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is 
in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 1: 13. 

Thus the apostle impresses the faith in which there 
is power, not only the faith of the head and lips ; 
he would have the fruits of faith vividly demonstrated 
in man's conduct, warning against such as have lost 
their faith through covetousness. No vicious per- 
son nor servant of sin can, in reality, believe. Faith 
precludes sin, and sin precludes faith. Faith and sin 
are as opposed to each other as spirit and flesh ; fire and 
water; light and darkness. A painted fire can easily 
agree with darkness ; a painted faith can dwell harmon- 
iously together with all the passions in a sinful heart and 
mind. But the true and living faith is full of power 
and love, full of righteousness and godliness, full of 
meekness and longsufTering ; it expels everything which 
is opposed to it; and it .works that which is conducive 
to faith. Therefore, O man of God, glory in Jesus 



400 

Christ, and in His righteousness, but read what kind of 
faith St. Paul preached and see if this faith is yours 
also. 

The Gospel shows the Father's grace, 
Who sent His Son to save our race: 
Proclaims how Jesus lived and died 
That man might thus be justified. 

May we in faith its tidings learn, 
Nor thanklessly its blessings spurn; 
May we in faith its truth confess, 
And praise the Lord our righteousness. 



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